EFFECTS OF THINK-PAIR-SHARE STRATEGY ON PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS AMONG UPPER BASIC STUDENTS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the Effects of Think-Pair-Share on performance of students in Mathematics in Upper Basic Schools in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The study was guided by ten specific objectives among which are determine the differences in the pre-test and post-test scores of students taught Mathematics in Upper Basic Schools using Think-Pair-Share in Kaduna State, Nigeria; compare the difference in the post-test performance scores of students taught Mathematics in Upper Basic Schools using Think-Pair-Share and those taught Mathematics using conventional strategy in Kaduna State, Nigeria. In correspondence with the specific objectives, 2 research questions and hypotheses were raised. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted. The population of the study comprised 2,379 students who offered Mathematics in Upper Basic Schools in Kaduna State. Three intact classes comprising 145 students were used as sample for the study. An instrument titled Mathematics Performance and Retention Test (MAPERETE) was used for data collection. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while t-test statistical tool was used to test hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed  that: Post-test performance of students taught Mathematics using the Think-Pair-Share strategy was significantly higher than their pre-test mean performance score in Upper Basic Schools in Kaduna State (p = .000). Students taught Mathematics using Think-Pair-Share strategy performed significantly better than those taught using the Conventional Method in Upper Basic Schools in Kaduna State (p = .001). The study concluded that cooperative learning strategies of Think-Pair-Share enhanced students’ performance in Mathematics in Upper Basic Schools in Kaduna State. The study recommended that Upper Basic School authorities should encourage teachers to use the Think-Pair-Share strategy to teach Mathematics to improve students’ performance. Teachers should adopt cooperative learning strategies over the Conventional Method to improve students’ performance in Mathematics.