The Effect of Using the Wheatley Educational Model According to Cooperative Groups to Reflective Thinking and Learning the Basic Skills of Freestyle Swimming for Students

The research aimed to identify the effect of the Wheatley model according to cooperative groups in reflective thinking and learning the basic skills of freestyle swimming for students. As for the research hypothesis, it was represented by the presence of statistically significant differences between the post-tests of the two groups (experimental and control), and the research population was determined by the intentional method of third-stage students in College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Sulaymaniyah. As for the research sample, it was randomly selected by lottery from Division (A) and consisted of (32) students. It was divided into two groups: the experimental group, which consisted of (14) students, and the control group, which consisted of (14) students. The skill tests for free swimming were relied upon to reach the results after treating them with appropriate statistical means. The researcher concluded that the Wheatley educational model according to the cooperative groups had a positive impact on reflective thinking and learning the basic skills of free swimming for the third stage students of the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences in University of Sulaymaniyah. The researcher recommended the need to use the Wheatley educational model according to cooperative groups in learning the basic skills of freestyle swimming for different stages and age groups. The researcher also recommended the need to use the Wheatley educational model according to cooperative groups in teaching various other activities and sports.