Closing the loop 2005

Desired Outcome:

The effectiveness of small groups engaged in a cooperative learning will aid student understanding of economic justice issues and their development of moral values.

Data Collection:

• Individual written assignments where students argue for or against Dorothy Day’s sainthood.
• Student groups with the same conclusion present their arguments to the class.

Interpretation of the Data:

• Final papers reveal that students arguing Day was a rule breaker whose life did not fit the rules of Catholic sainthood were less likely to recommend sainthood.
• Final papers of students who argued she had a selfless concern for the rights of the poor and showed a lack of concern for her own needs argued for sainthood.
• Personal involvement helped students think through the rationale for their stance.
• What is needs more thought is how to help students get more into social, economic justice issues and the development of moral values.

 Changes to implement:

• Develop questions for written assignments to guide thinking about into social, economic justice issues and the development of moral values.
• Provide individual opportunities for students to think through assignment as well as group opportunities.