Renzo Carriero & Marcello Cabria (UniTo & CCA)

Seminar series “CLOSER, but not quite” – “Improving socio-emotional and citizenship skills: does collaborative peer learning matter? Findings from an RCT in Torino”

Venue: Campus Luigi Einaudi, room 3 D1 01

Abstract: We report findings from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a cooperative learning method, called the buddy method, in improving children’s socio-emotional and citizenship skills. The intervention took place in eight schools in Turin as part of an impact evaluation within the KIDS4ALLL project (Horizon 2020). Approximately 400 children from middle and secondary schools were involved and assigned to either the treatment or control group based on random selection at the classroom level. Using content accessible on a dedicated web platform, the treated classes received 30 hours of educational activities focused on digital and active citizenship competences. Pupils in the treated classrooms were paired to form “buddy couples” and engaged in cooperative and active learning of these competences. Pupils in the control group filled in the questionnaire only and received the treatment later. Pre- and post-intervention outcomes regarding five measures of socio-emotional and citizenship skills were collected through questionnaires. Our findings revealed a positive effect of the intervention on pupils’ interpersonal self-esteem, and small negative effects on general self-efficacy and adaptability. There were no significant impacts on emotional self-esteem, perceived citizenship skills, or sense of inclusion.