Using cooperative teaching and learning approaches to improve form 3 science (A) SHS students’ performance in tritrimetry

Abstract

This study on titrimtry which is practical oriented sought to find out the effectiveness of using cooperative learning to improve upon the performance of students in titrimetry in senior high schools in St. Francis Girls’ SHS. The research also assessed the attitude of students towards the use of cooperative learning.The main instruments used for data collection was achievement test with observation as supplementary instrument. One hundred and twenty students participated in the study. The participants were selected from third year students science classes in the school, thus, 3 Science (A) and 3 Science (B). These two classes were randomly assigned as a control group, instructed through the traditional (lecture method) and the other as experimental group instructed through cooperative strategies. A pre test on student’s knowledge and skill in titrimetry was conducted before instruction to determine their baseline achievement. At the end of the instruction, a post test was administered. The scores obtained from the pre tests and post tests were analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16 for windows 2007. The results obtained from the statistical analysis showed a significant improvement of the students, largely attributed to the use of cooperative learning. It was concluded that cooperative instructional approaches had a positive effect on the students’ performance in titrimetry. It was recommended that teachers should endeavor to incorporate cooperative learning strategy into any method of teaching to enable the student reap the benefits.