Effectiveness of Cooperative Learning Strategy on the Learning Outcomes of Students in Basic Science in Junior Secondary Schools in Osun State

The study investigated the effectiveness of cooperative learning strategy on students' achievement in Basic Science in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State. It also determined the effect of the strategy on students' attitude towards the learning of Basic Science in Junior Secondary Schools and finally assessed the effect of the strategy on students gender on the learning outcomes of students in Basic Science. These were with a view to improving students' performance in the subject. The study employed the equivalent groups pretest, post test, control group, quasi experimental research design. The population for the study comprised all Junior Secondary School II students in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State. Two schools were selected randomly using simple random sampling technique. From the selected schools, two intact classes of JSS II students were also randomly selected using simple random sampling technique. In all, sixty students were used for the study. Two instruments were used for data collection. They are Test of knowledge in Basic Science TKBS and Students' Attitude Questionnaire SAQ towards the learning of Basic Science. Data collected were analysed through mean, standard deviation and t test analysis. The results of the study showed a significant difference in the achievement of students exposed to cooperative learning and those taught with teacher expository method t=4.643 p 0.05 . Students in cooperative learning group performed better than those in teacher expository method. The results further revealed a significant difference in the attitude of students exposed to cooperative learning after the treatment t=41.04 p 0.05 and the results finally showed that gender has no effect on students' academic performance t=0.748 p 0.05 . The study concluded that cooperative learning strategy is a better and innovative method in improving students' academic performance in Basic Science. Olajide, Simeon Olayinka "Effectiveness of Cooperative Learning Strategy on the Learning Outcomes of Students in Basic Science in Junior Secondary Schools in Osun State" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-1 | Issue-6 , October 2017, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd2515.pdf