| This research was conducted using a quasi-experimental study design. The study took place at a local high school in the Miami-Dade County Public School System, the 4th largest school system in the nation. Students in the researcher’s high school class were entering high school for the first time and were promoted into 9th grade at the end of the 2008–2009 school year. The observed problem that necessitated the study had been noticed during the writer’s tenure at the school. The minority students, Blacks and Hispanics in particular, were underperforming in the researcher’s earth science class when compared to their White and Asian American counterparts.;The researcher conducted the study for the purpose of determining whether cooperative learning through active engagement techniques could enhance these students' achievement in earth and space science. The researcher used a cooperative learning technique in combination with technology integration, research activities, laboratory experimentation, and other aspects of group projects to engage students in a collaborative effort with the hope of enhancing their performance. The method involved grouping students using Kagan’s numerical system. Students were placed in groups of 4, which included 1 high achiever, 2 average achievers, and 1 low achiever.;The placement process utilized the incoming students’ 8th-grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test science results. Placement was carried out after the researcher had the opportunity to observe the students so that groups did not contain friends and adversaries or all-male or all-female members. The premise for using this technique was to engage the students actively, help them become self-reliant, develop skills in teamwork, and work cooperatively to contribute equally to each other’s success.;A paired sample t test was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that achievement scores from the posttest would be statistically more significant than the pretest. The test was statistically significant at t(36.0)=4.568, p<0.001. The population in the study group scored significantly higher on postintervention achievement at t(M=38.92, SD=13.12) than the preintervention achievement t(M=26.35, SD=8.87). Additionally, the eta square index indicated that 37% of the variance in the test scores was accounted for. |
