Cooperative learning in mathematics: A study on the effects of the parameter of equality on academic performance. [Aprendizaje cooperativo en matemáticas: Un estudio de los efectos del parámetro de igualdad sobre el rendimiento académico

Abstract

The aim of this research is to determine, the importance of learning content and the role of students' prior knowledge for the for- mation of cooperative learning groups. The research was conducted in three mathematics classrooms at a secondary school and the sample was composed of 72 third year students. The results prove the existence of a negative correlation between the equality parameter (cooperation, collabo- ration and peer-tutoring) and the degree of existing cognitive proximity be- tween students' prior knowledge and structure of the learning content.