EFFECTS OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING STRATEGY ON SENIOR SECONDARY TWO STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN CHEMISTRY IN JEMA’A, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KADUNA STATE

Abstract

The study examined the effects of cooperative learning strategy on senior secondary two students’ achievement in Chemistry in Jema’a, Kaduna State. The study had three research questions and three hypotheses formulated in line with the research objectives. Literature was reviewed in line with the research topic, objectives and research questions. The study adopted the quasi experimental research design involving pre-test-post-test nonequivalent control group design. The population of the study consisted of 543 students from public senior secondary schools in Jema’a. The sample of the study was 180 students drawn from four intact classes in senior secondary schools in Jema’a L.G.A. The instrument used for the research was a stoichiometry achievement test (SAT) The validity of the instrument was established by judgment of three experts, one in Research, Measurement and Evaluation Unit of the Department of Educational Foundations, University of Jos. One in Chemistry education unit of the department of science and technology education, University of Jos and a Chemistry teacher at secondary school level. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was determined through administering the research instrument on 30 respondents who were not part of the study. Results were calculated using Kuder Richardson (K-R-20) formula which gives reliability index of 0.70.  Data were computed using mean, standard deviation and ANCOVA.  The findings of the study showed that Cooperative learning strategy was effective in improving the achievement of secondary school students in Chemistry. The study recommended that Chemistry teachers should adopt the use of cooperative learning instructional strategy in the teaching of Chemistry at the secondary school level. The study further recommended that Special training on the effective implementation of cooperative learning instructional strategy should always be organized for teachers and students by the state government, so as to help them become competent in the use of this teaching strategy in the teaching and learning process.