INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN USING THE SNOWBALLING EFFECT TECHNIQUE

In this study we investigated the effectiveness of collaborative learning in the context of small-group discussions through the snowballing effect technique. The study was conducted in one of the Vocational and Technical institutions in Brunei Darussalam, which offers Travel and Tourism Services. The two chosen mathematics topics in this study were the measure on central tendency and sets. A group of 18 students having at least a pass in their previous secondary school national examination was selected to participate in this study. Data was collected through a series of tests, students’ interviews, class observations and by collecting students’ artifacts. The findings showed that when a snowball effect technique were introduced and used in the small-group discussions there were improvements in the students’ test performances. The use of these techniques and approaches had certainly improved the students’ learning experience and may also help instructors better utilize their time by conducting collaborative learning approaches in their future mathematics lessons.