Effect of Cooperative Learning Strategy and Academic Achievement of PhysicsStudents with Learning Disabilities in Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State,Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of learning plan implementation
prepared with the cooperative learning method, within Aninri L. G.A. The cooperative learning
strategy used was Students – Team Achievement Division (STAD), and a pre – test – post – test
control group design was adopted for the study. A random sampling was used and four (4)
secondary schools were selected among all the secondary schools within the area of study. All
the students offering physics within the four (4) selected secondary schools constituted the
population of the study, and a total of eighty (80) students constituted the sample of the study.
Instrument for data collection were pre – test Physics Achievement Test and post – test Physics
Achievement Test. The questions used for the pre – test and post – test was collected from
WAEC past questions which have been tested for validity and reliability, and were proved to
be standard. The data collected were analysed using t – test method of data analysis and was
used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that cooperative
learning strategy is more effective in the teaching and learning of physics, among students with
learning disabilities, than competitive learning strategy, and it also increased social
interaction between them and the normal students, Based on the findings and conclusions of
this study, recommendations were made for the enhancement of students with disabilities’
achievement in secondary school physics, such as inculcating cooperative learning strategy
into school curriculum; adaptation of cooperative learning strategy by both the teachers and
students (especially students with disabilities) for effective teaching, learning and
understanding of physics.