The Effect of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) on Preparatory Students in Mathematics

Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) is a kind of cooperative learning where students work in small groups to accomplish shared goals. Students with high ability will work together with students with low ability in solving mathematical problems, thus

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The Effect of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) on Preparatory Students in Mathematics Salimah Ahmad, Mariathy Karim, Fazillah Bosli, Nurhidayah Masni Abdullah, Aishah Mahat, Siti Rosiah Mohammed, Anisah Dasman and Nor Habibah Tarmuji

Abstract Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) is a kind of cooperative learning where students work in small groups to accomplish shared goals. Students with high ability will work together with students with low ability in solving mathematical problems, thus maximizing their own and each other’s learning. The objective of this research is to study the effect of PALS in selected mathematics groups of students. A total of 162 respondents were selected from the Pre-Commerce Programme. Cluster sampling was used to randomly select six out of ten groups. Three groups were identified as Experimental Group (EG) and the remaining three as Control Group (CG). Research hypothesis were tested using independent sample t-test to compare the mean score between two groups. Coefficient of variation was used to identify the consistency of mean score in EG applying PALS compared to the mean score in CG that used the classical technique. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the mean score of the two tests and final examination between the EG and CG. Besides that, the mean score of students in EG has a more consistent distribution compared to students in CG for quizzes, tests, and final. Overall, the study revealed the effectiveness of PALS on preparatory students in mathematics course. Keywords Cluster sampling strategies



Preparatory students



Peer-assisted learning

S. Ahmad (&)  F. Bosli  N.M. Abdullah  A. Mahat  S.R. Mohammed  A. Dasman N.H. Tarmuji Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Pahang, 26400 Bandar Tun Razak Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia e-mail: [email protected] M. Karim Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sarawak, 93250 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia © Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2016 M.A. Abdullah et al. (eds.), Regional Conference on Science, Technology and Social Sciences (RCSTSS 2014), DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-1458-1_58

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1 Introduction Mengubah Destini Anak Bangsa (MDAB) is a programme initiated by the Vice Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi MARA to help under privileged Bumiputera students pursue tertiary educational opportunities. The students selected for this programme come from less-fortunate backgrounds such as from poor family, Orang Asli (natives in Peninsular Malaysia), or the orphans. The family is considered as poor if the family’s monthly income is less than RM 3000. It is assumed that families with such income range are not able to support their children to further their education at a higher level. Most students selected for this programme have poor educational background. The minimum entry requirement is Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia with three credits including Bahasa Melayu (http://sarawak.uitm.edu.my/ mdab). The