Collaborative Learning: A Strategy in Reducing the Academic Anxietyamong 8th Grade Learners

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The on-going-discovery of new strategies in the learning process of the 21st Century learners has been felt in the educational contexts. With this, learners are continuously discovering their skills and potentials with the various learning styles given inside the classroom. The effectiveness of this activity has been recognized for years and has been reflected in schools' performances and achievements. However, most of the learners today are still experiencing test-taking anxiety almost in all academic areas. Therefore, the researchers made use of collaborative learning as a strategy for reducing learners’ academic anxiety in test-taking in all academic areas. With this, the researchers sought to investigate the effectiveness and usefulness of collaborative learning as a strategy for reducing the academic anxiety of Grade 8 learners.

METHODS

The researchers employed the quasi-experimental design. One hundred thirty-three (133) out of two hundred (200) 8th Grade learners participated in this study. Random sampling was used to select participants from the five sections of Grade 8 students. There were 70 students for the experimental group and 63 for the control group. The PHCC Test Anxiety Questionnaire was utilized. The pre-test and post-test scores from the questionnaire were calculated for descriptive statistics and analyzed using the t-test measure.

RESULTS

There is a significant difference in the academic anxiety between students who participated in cooperative learning and students who worked alone in reducing the level of their academic anxiety. Therefore, the students' anxiety levels decreased through collaborative learning such as "Think-Pair-Share", "Numbered Heads Together" and "Peer Review". The students also had a favorable attitude toward collaborative learning as a whole.

DISCUSSIONS

The result of this study implies that collaborative learning strategy is effective in reducing the level of academic anxiety of 8th Grade learners. In this study, cooperative learning activities such as "Think-Pair-Share", "Numbered Heads Together" and "Peer Review" are believed to be effective and useful in reducing the academic anxiety of the learners. The result of this study also implies that working alone does not help in reducing the level of academic anxiety of 8th graders.