Effect of Cooperative Learning on Students’ Academic Performance in Mathematics Lesson in Day Secondary School of Rwanda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t5257Abstract
Cooperative learning among students is important in promoting students' learning and academic performance. The purpose of this study therefore, was to identify the effect of cooperative learning on students’ academic performance in mathematics lesson in day secondary schools in Nyamasheke District, Rwanda. The target population was 513 and a sample size of 224 was obtained by using Solvin formula. Questionnaire and interview guides were used as data collection instruments. The finding revealed that 94.8% of students agreed that Cooperative Learning improve positive interdependence, 94.8% of students agreed that the group processing are strengthened via cooperative learning, 96.7% of students agreed that social skills are improved by Cooperative Learning and 95.7% of students agreed that promotive interaction are occurs during cooperative learning. It was also noted that 75.8% of students agreed that they interested on the subject this improve students’ academic performance, 95.3 % of students agreed that the social work improved, 92.4% of students agreed that they improve their grades and 78.2% of students agreed that their promotion rate is high as academic performance. The Pearson coefficient of correlation between positive interdependence as method use in cooperative learning and improved students’ grades p-value=0.000 and positive interdependence with promotion rate p-value=0.010. For group processing as method of cooperative learning correlate with improved social work p-value=0.003. For social skills as developed in cooperative learning is correlated with students’ interested on subject p-value=0.000. On the promotive interaction as use in cooperative learning correlated with promotion rate p-value=0.002. The study concluded that cooperative learning affects students’ academic performance. The study recommends that educational planners should create an effective environment that will improve students' academic performance as well as teaching strategies that will encourage active participation in class. Schools should actively integrate cooperative learning methods into their teaching practices to improve academic performance. Parents should be made aware of the benefits of cooperative learning and encouraged to support group activities or homework projects. The curriculum should be flexible enough to allow teachers to incorporate various cooperative learning methods, as the study found that different aspects had different impacts.
Keywords: Cooperative learning, Academic performance and Students’ academic performance
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