Cooperative Learning Effects on Secondary Level Mathematics Students’ Academic Achievement: A Multiple Testing Based Comparison

Abstract

Education plays an important role to build a country, nation, and a society. The subject of mathematics demands creative and critical thinking of students. The study aimed to investigate the effects of cooperative learning method on students’ achievements in the subjects of mathematics in algebraic expression i.e. identification of algebraic expression, addition and subtraction of algebraic expression, verify and use of algebraic expression etc. In this experimental study a test was conducted for the pre-test and post-test. The sample of this study was 123 students of the 9^th graders divided into two groups (Control group and Experimental group). The Control group was treated as the traditional method of teaching and the Experimental group was treated as the cooperative teaching methods. It was hypothesized that there is no significantly difference between the students mathematical achievements taught through cooperative method and traditional method. The achievement test consisted 20 MCQs, 10 Short Answer and 6 Subjective Questions. Paired sample t-test was used to interpret the data. It was concluded that cooperative learning increase the students achievements in Short Answers and Subjective Questions. In MCQs there is no significant difference of Control and Experimental group.