COOPERATIVE LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD: INFLUENCE ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICS

This experimental research endeavored to analyze the effectiveness of cooperative learning instructional method on learners' academic achievement in physics at secondary level. Strategy used in this research study was STAD and Jigsaw II technique making heterogeneous groups based on final scores in public examination conducted by Punjab Examination Commission and pretest scores. After a thorough review of test construction techniques and National Curriculum of Physics of class 10th (2009) Pakistan, an achievement test was designed. After analyzing the pilot data by using ITMAN software 45 items were selected. Pre-test, post-test with control group experimental design was used. Female science students of 10th class session (2016- 2017) were considered as the population. 60 students from a public school of Lahore were selected as sample of study. Performance of students on worksheets in weekly tests and achievement test were the source of data collection. To analyze the difference between the two groups on pretest and posttest paired sample and independent samples t-tests were used. Findings showed significant variations between the treatment and comparison groups regarding their academic achievement. Findings supported the usefulness of cooperative learning as an instructional method for teaching physics