Development of Analytical Thinking Skills in History subject by using the Cooperative Learning Process for Mattayomsuksa Two Students of Ban Nongtao School under Ubon Ratchathani Primary Educational Service Area Office 2

Abstract

The research aimed to develop analytical thinking skills by using the cooperative learning process and to study the results of that development in the history subject for Mattayomsuksa two (grade 8) students of Ban Nongtao School.

                 The target group was  34  grade  8 students of Ban Nongtao School in Trakanphuetphon district in the second semester of the school year 2012. The research instruments consisted of
1) seven lesson plans based on the cooperative learning process and 2) the test for analytic thinking skills, quizzes, learning achievement test, observation recording form, and interview form for learners, and daily records.  Statistics used in data analysis were percentage, mean and standard deviation.

The research findings were as follows.

1. The development of analytical thinking skills comprised three circles. Each circles consisted of three stages: planning, operation and observation and feedback. In circle one, there were two plans; in circle two, there were three plans and in circle three, there were two plans. Learning was conducted by using a cooperative learning process composed of five stages: preparation: students were divided into sub-groups and were informed of rules, roles and duties. Teaching: a teacher introduced a lesson, content and sources and explained the working steps.  Group activities: students learn in a group and were engaged in different activities as assigned.  Performance examination and test:  it was concerned with the students’ duties as assigned.  Summary and performance evaluation: both students and teachers worked together to summarized a lesson and evaluate a group performance.  If students secured the scores lower than 75% of the total, it was important to give a remedial lesson.  The result showed that with learning activities based on a cooperative learning process in operation, the students possessed desirable characteristics and better analytical thinking skills.
2. The students under study had higher analytical thinking skills than before. Their average scores before learning averaged 6.65 accounting for 44.31%. Their average scores after learning averaged 13.15 accounting for 87.65%. The results of analytical thinking skills showed that the skills of the students under study before and after learning progressed by 43.34%.  It means that the students had passed the set criterion of 75%.