"Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (Pals): Effects on the Intellectual Achievement among Grade 7 Students in Science of Tmcnhs - Conchu Annex"

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) is an intervention that utilizes the help of more advanced students in assisting with the development of children with greater education needs, especially in Science. The program combines peer tutoring with instructional principals and techniques. Specific techniques vary depending on the grade level and domain of focus. Teachers pair students based on skill levels and social compatibility. In each pair, one student serves as the "coach," while the other is the "player." Teachers make pairings by ranking all the children in the class on reading capabilities and splitting the list in half. The teacher then pairs the two most capable students from each list, the second two most capable, and so on. Pairs are changed frequently so that each student eventually has the opportunity to be both a coach and a player. It also uses activities to help improve students' success within the targeted topic in a subject area. It provides review sessions outside of class in which students work collaboratively by discussing, reading, comparing notes, working together, and sharing ideas forimproving in class (Fuchs et al. ,2007).

METHODS

The experimental method of research was used in this study. It is a procedure that enables the researcher to test his hypothesis by reaching valid conclusions about relationships between independent and dependent variables. The following are the statistical being used during the study: Frequency, which usually refers to the number of times the event occurred or the characteristics present in the study; mean, which usually refers to average that is used to derive the central tendency of the data in question; and t-test, which is used to compare two different set of values and generally performed on a smallset of data.

RESULTS

Based on the gathered data, the following are the result of the profile of the respondents in terms of age. Findings show that 33 or 79% of the respondent's age is 10 -12 years old, 7 or 17% of the respondent's age is 13 -14 years old while 2 or 4% of the respondent's age is 15 -16 years old. Of the respondents in terms of gender, findings show that 19 or 45% of the respondents are male while 23 or 55% of the respondents are female. Based on the intellectual achievement level of the students in science, findings show that the experimental group has an achievement level of 83.83 while the controlled group has an achievement level of 81. 64. And lastly, about the significant difference of student's level of intellectual achievement by peer-assisted learning strategies, findings show that the absolute value of the calculated t is smaller than the critical value (1.7134<1.99), so the means are not significantly different.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the result of the study, the Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) helps the students intellectual achievement in Science, regardless of whether they began the year low -, average -, and high -performers.