Using Computer-Assisted Test to Harmlessly Improve the Efficiency of Heterogeneous Grouping in Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning can bring many benefits when groups of students work together in writing, projects, or other activities. However, there are disadvantages of collaborative learning. One of the disadvantages is that the time spent on learning a topic could be unbelievable. To improve the efficiency of a collaborative learning activity, this study used computer-assisted test for the heterogeneous grouping stage. Unfortunately, any test may increase students’ learning anxiety. Therefore, the study aims to find out how to improve efficiency of collaborative learning activities in a classroom without losing the expected objectives. First, the Team-Game-Tournament (TGT) collaborative learning strategy was selected to complement the computer-assisted test. Then, we can use a questionnaire to show that there is no significant increase on learning anxiety after using computer-assisted testing. In other words, additional testing in collaborative learning is harmless to students’ learning anxiety. Finally, the time spent on learning a topic of experimental group was compared with control group to demonstrate the improvement of efficiency. The most interesting part of this study is showing computer-assisted test as a useful tool for computer-supported collaborative learning.