Effects of cooperative learning on gender equality education in university students

Background: Coeducation in university settings is essential for fostering an inclusive, equitable, and diverse learning environment. In this regard, cooperative learning could play a crucial role in promoting coeducation by fostering collaboration, communication, and mutual understanding between male and female students. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of cooperative learning on gender equality and cooperative skills in students. Methods: The design of the study was quasi-experimental with quantitative pre- and post-test measures. The sample was comprised of 60 students (female = 30, male = 30, age: 19,97 +/- 1,21 years) enrolled in the 2nd grade of Sport Sciences, distributed into two groups (control and experimental). The Competencies Scale for Gender Equality Education (CEIG) and the Questionnaire for the Analysis of Cooperative Learning in Higher Education (ACOES) were implemented before and after the intervention in both groups. The experimental group participated in 7 volleyball lessons that followed a methodology grounded in Cooperative Learning, specifically using the Jigsaw method, which ensured the formation of mixed-gender teams. A Mann-Whitney U test was carried out to verify the intergroup effect of the intervention. Results: The experimental group significantly improved in 2 out of 3 dimensions of the CEIG and in 5 out of the 7 dimensions of the ACOES. Conclusions: Teaching collective sports like volleyball through a cooperative model, specifically with the Jigsaw method and including mixed teams, significantly contributes to improving not only cooperative teamwork skills but also gender equality in education.