Perceptions of Trainees and Trainers towards Diversity Management in Applying Cooperative Learning in Technical and Vocational Colleges

Abstract

The implementation of cooperative learning is highly influenced by the student diversity management. This study investigated how cooperative learning was employed at technical and vocational colleges in southwest Ethiopia to manage student diversity. To that end, a mixed research methodology was used to carry out the research investigation. The empirical data was acquired from 458 trainees, 181 trainers, and 24 educational officials using questionnaires and in-depth interviews. An independent sample t-test analysis showed that trainees have more favorable perceptions of students' diversity management in the application of cooperative learning than do trainers. Cooperative learning has been found to work better in diverse classrooms than in monolithic groupings.