EFFECTIVENESS OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING IN SECONDARY SOCIAL STUDIES OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DIVISION OF ZAMBALES

ABSTRACT: This study assessed the effectiveness of the utilization of Cooperative Learning (CL) inSecondary Social Studies instruction, in Zone 2, Department of Education, Division of Zambalesduring the 3rdquarter of the school year 2018-2019. A descriptive research design and survey questionnaire were the maindata-gathering instruments.The researcher concluded that the teacher-respondents are female, in their earlyadulthood, specializing in Social Studies, Teacher I, holders of Bachelor Degrees with Master’s units, quite newin the teaching profession and have attended few seminars.The level of performance of high school students inSocial Studies using Cooperative Learning Methods and Activities improved from Pre-Test which isApproaching Proficiency to Proficient in the Post Test, increased chances for students’ conflict, noise andlimited techniques in maintaining students’ motivation were the challenges sometimes encountered whencooperative learning was utilized in teaching Social Studies lesson and contents.There is a significant differencein the perceived effectiveness of cooperative learning to students of the elements of Individual Accountability,Small Group and Interpersonal Skills, and Group Processing when attributed to teachers’ age. There are nosignificant differences in the perceived effectiveness of cooperative learning to students for Face to FaceInteraction when attributed to teachers’ profile and the perception of the extent of occurrence ofproblems/challenges in the utilization of cooperative learning when grouped according to teachers’ profilevariables, and there is a highly significant difference on the result of pre-test and a post-test score of the highschool students in Social Studies using cooperative learning method and learning activities was established.Teachers may plan ahead cooperative learning activities and tasks in which students work together on specificroles and materials (Positive Interdependence); learn how to strengthen communication skills (IndividualAccountability); encourage each other to learn and perform the task (Face to Face Interaction); develop moresensitivity and appreciate with others (Small Group and Interpersonal Skills), and reflect on the feedback theyreceive (Group Processing).

KEYWORDS: Cooperative Learning, Positive Interdependence, Individual Accountability, PromotiveInteraction, Small Group, and Interpersonal Skills, Group Processing