Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 8, Issue 2, Article 7 (Dec., 2007) Fui Fong HO and Hong Kwen BOO Cooperative learning: Exploring its effectiveness in the Physics classroom Contents Next

Cooperative learning: Exploring its effectiveness in the Physics classroom

¹Fui Fong HO and ²Hong Kwen BOO

¹East View Secondary School
Ministry of Education, SINGAPORE

²National Institute of Education
Nanyang Technological University, SINGAPORE

E-mail: ¹ ho_fui_fong@moe.edu.sg
² hongkwen.boo@nie.edu.sg

Received 6 Aug., 2007
Revised 21 Dec., 2007

Contents

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Cooperative learning
  • Relationship between cooperative learning and students' academic achievement
  • Relationship between cooperative learning and students' understanding of concept
  • Relationship between cooperative learning and students' motivation to learn
• Research questions
• Research design
• Methodology
• Data analysis
  • Students' academic achievement
  • Students' understanding of Physics concepts
  • Students' Motivation to Learn
• Discussion of findings
• Limitations of the study
• Conclusions
• References

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Abstract

This paper reports on the results of an action research to explore the effectiveness of using cooperative learning strategies on students' academic achievement, their understanding of physics concepts and their motivation to learn in the physics classroom. The study involved a secondary four express physics class of 41 students in a neighbourhood school. Various cooperative learning structures were used to teach the topics on ‘Current Electricity' and ‘D.C. Circuits' over a period of about 8 weeks. During this period, teacher-crafted pre- and post-intervention tests were administered to the class. A questionnaire survey was used to examine students' motivation to learn and perceptions of their learning experiences before and after the treatment period. A class using traditional method of teaching was also involved in the study as a control. The effects of using cooperative learning on students' academic achievement and their motivation to learn were examined through the analysis of the results of the pre- and post-tests and students' perception surveys, while the extent of using cooperative learning on helping students achieve a better understanding of physics concepts was examined through the qualitative analysis of the students' journals.  The results showed that the use of cooperative learning does increase students' academic achievement, helps students to achieve a better understanding of physics concepts and increases students' motivation to learn.

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