SUMMARY

I have chosen an article by Teena Andersen which was published on July,

2009 at Pilger, Nebraska. She is a mathematic teacher herself thus her thoughts
and ideas in the article suggest techniques for the usage of cooperative learning in
sixth grade maths classroom.
Based on the research, she conducted a survey to observe if the new
cooperative learning in classroom would contribute improvement in students
participation, students attitudes toward mathematics and math class, Teenas
teaching style changes and also expectations Teena to her students. She conducted
the research on nineteen students which was later assigned to four groups. First
would have 3 members and the other three groups would have 4 members. Teena
used survey, observation and interview to get responses for her research can
achieve the proposed research questions. (from February - April 2009).
Her findings showed that students were more focus on their task so the
classroom quieter rather than before.

This explains for the first finding that is

improvement in students participation. Besides, the highest percentages in her

survey indicate the students exchange more information and knowledge when they
work in group. Other than that, the lower-achievement students also show
improvement when they try giving some solution and ideas to solve some problems.
Secondly, the attitudes of her students toward math subject and class also
become better and she was glad because more of her student wills response and
explain mathematical problems, some would listen with undivided attention. For
instance, the majority of nineteen respondents said that want to study by using the
cooperative learning rather than traditional learning. Furthermore, Teena really
happy because before this, have some student didnt know how to solve problem
during a test but after she apply this method, her students excel more.
Thirdly, her teaching also improve based on what her students response it for
her. Teena students said that she more relax, calm and her teaching better since
they study use cooperative method. Her students said like that because before this,
she just explains what in the textbooks and her students doing some exercises. It
more differ after her try to used cooperative method.
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In a nutshell, these methods prove that teacher really try to fulfill the
students need. Moreover, the two way communications between students and
teacher need to be done more frequently and students will be more creative when
to solve mathematics problems.

REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION

Firstly, based on Miller, et all. (2004) that have been studied by Andersen
(2009) stated during mathematic class, students have more interaction and
participation to each other if does cooperative learning. Andersen (2009) also found
that the majority student show improvement, give good feedback when they study
in group and also more excited to share the best solution to solve the problem
together with their friends. I support these findings because as a student can try to
change our learning style if it can improve our understanding. Other than that,
sharing and exchange of knowledge with friends will increase our level of
understanding in certain matters. I suggest this technique used at local school in
the Pilger, Nebraska to be apply at all school in Malaysia as a second method
teaching in classroom. Furthermore, teacher and students will have more interaction
and students will know how to give specific role to each other. Besides that, they
will do their own responsibility for the each task that they get. To solve
mathematical problem, teacher must contribute some ideas that creative so every
students can give their idea how to solve some problems.
Besides, according to Andersen (2009), attitudes of her students toward math
subject and class also become better by using cooperative learning in mathematic
class. This show when have students response liked to receive other friends
opinion, happy when getting the new knowledge and also like to explain something
to others. They can exchange work and discuss about the problem. This will be
excellent when in this group consist students from different level of achievement so
the lower-ability students also can give opinions regarding the tasks (Andersen,
2009). I support these findings because based on my experience when I am was in
standard 6, I also study mathematics in group of five and we did not try to compete
each other but try to complete each other. This can decrease level of battle for each
member. It will made our relationship with friends better and we even tried to help
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the other friends that can not understand some topic. This also changes my
perception from difficult subject to be easier. My suggestion is, the teacher must
know better about her students before assign them to in which level of achievement
based on past result examination. Other than that teacher can ask for the teacher
that have been tough that class so it will more prepared before do this method.

Furthermore, based on Andersen (2009), she founded that in her teaching

style changes and it easier to explain the task with students while using this
method. As a students and becoming teacher, I agree with her findings because this
method will not only rely on the textbooks but require good communication with
students so that teachers task of teaching become much more enjoyable. Other
than that, while apply this method, the best is that activities in classroom. Teacher
must create simple quizzes or games that students can play in group and if have
group that can answer some questions with the clear steps, correctly, and faster,
they will get some rewards. This will make students more excited to study about
mathematics and they will not easily give up also will more discuss with other
members in group so they will get reward for the next questions. This also can make
students focus more on the questions and they will learn how to manage time while
answering some questions. In my opinion, the ministry of education must launch
seminar and workshop regarding cooperative learning to all mathematics teacher
so they will have some ideas to create their teaching, the materials, and activities
needed and also how to conduct this method in the classroom. This will require
teachers to be more creative and also can add varieties to their own teaching style.
This is due to nowadays, students feels bored if the teacher just read textbooks and
teach from the textbooks. Students must know how to apply it in daily life not just
take it as a learning to pass in final exam.

CONCLUSION
To conclude, this method has its own negative and positive effect but as an
educator, he or she must try to reduce the negative effect when apply this method
in class. The whole concept about cooperative learning will be interesting to be
apply in classroom if the teachers know how to conduct, to interact and know what
the students need. By using the cooperative learning, students are more excited to
be in class and this can enhance the traditional learning for students to adapt in the
future.

REFERENCES

Andersen, T. (2009). Using cooperative learning in a sixth grade math

classroom.
Retrived July, 2009 from
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1003&context=mathmidactionresearch