High School Mathematics Cooperative Learning Effectiveness Of Empirical Research

Cooperative learning is one of the most popular research areas in contemporary educational research. It is also an important learning method which was advocated in the curriculum reform of China, In the study of mathematics ,students should not only accept, memorize, simulate,and practice, but also explore independently, do hands-on activities, and communicate cooperatively. Cooperative learning can help to inspire the enthusiasm of students and make the process of mathematics learning to be the process of "re-creating".On the basis of reviewing the developing process of cooperative learning and the relevant theories about cooperative learning, this dissertation study investigated how cooperative learning was carried out in the mathematics classroom in a senior high school.In addition,this study presented a so called"participating in cooperative learning"strategy.This strategy has five aspects:(l)Introduce the teaching content by relating to real life;(2)Think independently with problems;(3)Discuss the problem cooperatively;(4)Pay attention to knowledge transferring and innovating;(5)Have a in-class test and provide feedback.Two related studies were then carried out to examine the effectiveness of this strategy and how this strategy affected student learning of mathematics.Three main conclusions of this study are listed as follows:1.There was misapplication of cooperative learning in the mathematics classrooms in the senior high school. This misapplication reduced the effectiveness of cooperative learning. 2. The "participating in cooperative learning"strategy was effective in the terms of the following four aspects:to catch students' learning interests,to establish their initiative consciousness, to cultivate their capability of mathematics,and to improve then-mathematics achievement3.Effective cooperative learning should let students experience the process of "think independently-cooperative communication -think independently".