The Effects of Cooperative Learning in Mathematics Subject to Academic Performance of Grade Six Pupils of Talon Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Cooperative learning is a learning and teaching style and contrasts greatly with traditional direct instruction. The researcher came up to this problem to provide students with poor Math performance, and who difficulties in solving Math problems, an instructional arrangement that fosters the application and practice of Mathematics and collaborative skills within a natural setting.

METHODS

Quantitative Research Design which is the systematic, scientific investigation of data and their interpretation was used in this study. Pupils post-test result for the last three years was used as data in identifying the poor performance in Mathematics of grade six pupils in Talon Elementary School. The result of the assessment was the source of interpreted data. Then critical document analysis was employed using the means and average/composite means as statistical measures.

RESULTS

Results in this research study must be identified, the academic performance in Mathematics for the last three years the MPS showed 73.6, 74.6 and 74.8. When cooperative learning was holistically applied in class discussion the result of an assessment was increased as 83.6 as their MPS. Cooperative learning affects the academic performance of pupils; it increases the achievement level of the pupils, increases interest among participants and promotes critical thinking, cooperative teams achieve higher levels of thought and retain information longer than the students who work quietly as individuals, and gives pupils opportunities to engage in discussion, take responsibility for their own learning and thus become critical thinkers.

DISCUSSIONS

Cooperative learning styles that employed by the teacher for the success with cooperative learning, the teacher was designate a signal that shows students to stop and listen for further instructions before the activity, the teacher should stay close to the noisy groups which remind the members to reduce the noise, in order to make cooperative learning enjoyable teaching tool, teacher should start slowly and add activities to pupils as the pupils feel comfortable working together, cooperative group skills must be taught just like skills in Math, reading and writing, students must perceive that they are positively interdependent with the other members of the group, and once group are formed, teachers should encourage team members to get to know each other. Thus cooperative learning has been used extensively to promote Mathematics achievement of students.