The effects of Cooperative learning on student’s ability to solve a mathematical problem : -from a teacher’s perspective

The Swedish curriculum includes five mathematical competences and problem solving is one of them. Students should be given the best opportunities to develop their skills on how to solve mathematical problems. Cooperative learning is a well-known learning method, used by teachers all over the world. The aim of this study is to examine if teachers find that cooperative learning support students’ development in their ability to solve a mathematical problem. The purpose is also, to examine possibilities and difficulties using cooperative learning when solving mathematical problems. The study is based on a teacher perspective and phenomenology is used as a theoretical approach. A qualitative method is used with semi-structured interviews. Due to the result, cooperative learning helps students take part of each other’s thoughts in the mathematical process which develops their problem solving ability. According to the result, Cooperative learning has a positive effect on students’ development on how to solve a problem. The conclusion shows that, the interviewed teachers had a positive attitude towards using cooperative learning due to problem solving.