The Use of Group Work During Mathematics Lesson
THE USE OF GROUP WORK IN IMPROVING
PUPILS’ PARTICIPATION DURING
MATHEMATICS LESSONS
By
Amy Lau Mee Ling
<amylau87@yahoo.com>
ABSTRACT
Group learning is a kind of social interaction where the pupils can learn from their peers. From my experience, pupils seldom involved themselves with each other in learning Mathematics. Therefore, I pursue a research that can help me to increase my Year 3 Kemboja pupils’ involvement in learning Mathematics by doing group work. The respondents consisted of 30 pupils from Year 3 Kemboja where majority of them were low ability pupils. I used field notes to observe the pupils’ behaviour. Besides, I also used interview and questionnaire in order to gain my pupils’ feedback. The result showed that more than half of the class has increased their involvement by doing group work compared to the situation before. Most of the low ability pupils have involved themselves in group work where they learnt to interact with their group members. From my observations, the pupils indicated some interaction among them.
INTRODUCTION
Research context
I am Amy Lau Mee Ling, a trainee teacher who is now studying in Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Tun Abdul Razak, Kota Samarahan. I had my third Practicum and Internship in the same school which was Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Haji Baki. Since I was given time to do my research proposal, I was required to find out my focus for my research during my practicum period where it lasted for three months.
Reflection from previous teaching and learning
During my third practicum, I was teaching Year 3 Kemboja. When I first entered the class, the pupils were required to do their own exercises individually. Most of them were low ability pupils where they were having a hard time learning on their own. I saw them sat silently and held the pencils on their hands without doing anything. Most of the pupils seldom moved to ask or even their friends who sat beside them. I thought
PUPILS’ PARTICIPATION DURING
MATHEMATICS LESSONS
By
Amy Lau Mee Ling
<amylau87@yahoo.com>
ABSTRACT
Group learning is a kind of social interaction where the pupils can learn from their peers. From my experience, pupils seldom involved themselves with each other in learning Mathematics. Therefore, I pursue a research that can help me to increase my Year 3 Kemboja pupils’ involvement in learning Mathematics by doing group work. The respondents consisted of 30 pupils from Year 3 Kemboja where majority of them were low ability pupils. I used field notes to observe the pupils’ behaviour. Besides, I also used interview and questionnaire in order to gain my pupils’ feedback. The result showed that more than half of the class has increased their involvement by doing group work compared to the situation before. Most of the low ability pupils have involved themselves in group work where they learnt to interact with their group members. From my observations, the pupils indicated some interaction among them.
INTRODUCTION
Research context
I am Amy Lau Mee Ling, a trainee teacher who is now studying in Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Tun Abdul Razak, Kota Samarahan. I had my third Practicum and Internship in the same school which was Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Haji Baki. Since I was given time to do my research proposal, I was required to find out my focus for my research during my practicum period where it lasted for three months.
Reflection from previous teaching and learning
During my third practicum, I was teaching Year 3 Kemboja. When I first entered the class, the pupils were required to do their own exercises individually. Most of them were low ability pupils where they were having a hard time learning on their own. I saw them sat silently and held the pencils on their hands without doing anything. Most of the pupils seldom moved to ask or even their friends who sat beside them. I thought
References: Biggs, J., & Watkins, D. (Eds.). (1995). Classroom Learning: Educational Psychology for the Asian Teacher. Singapore: Prentice Hall. Callahan, S. (2009). Group rewards result in higher performance. Retrieved from http://www.anecdote.com.au/archives/2009/01/group_rewards_r.html on 25th August 2010. Evertson, C. M., Emmer, E. T., & Worsham, M. E. (2006). Classroom Management For Elementary Teachers Seventh Edition. United States of America: Pearson Allyn and Bacon. Harte, S. (2001). Groups and Groupwork. Retrieved from http://youthworkcentral.tripod.com/sean3.htm on 12th March 2010. Jaques, D. (2000). Learning in Groups: A Handbook for Improving Group Work Third Edition. Great Britain: Bell & Bain Ltd, Glasgow. Porter, L. (2000). Student Behaviour: Theory and practice for teachers Second Edition. Sdyney: Allen & Unwin Education. Rosenthal, J