A Case Study of Fostering Positive Interdependence in Secondary Science Classrooms through Multimodal Collaborative Learning

Abstract

<p>This research conducts a case study implementing five multimodal collaborative STEM lessons with 7th-grade students, focusing on the plane table survey technique, a geometry and geography method that requires collaboration among groups. The course enrolled 48 students (71% male, 29% female), aged 12 to 15. After the course, we randomly selected 17 students (6 female and 11 male) from 9 groups to participate in semi-structured interviews. Combining thematic analysis and video analysis, we observed a model of positive collaboration: students actively shared responsibilities and helped each other achieve a common team goal. Throughout the process, students established effective communication and developed mutual trust. Additionally, we found that these positive collaborative actions may be closely related to the absence of inter- and intra-group competition and the nature of the plane table survey task, which fostered positive interdependence among students.<br></p>