Approaches of Cooperative Learning across Ministry of Health Nursing Education Institutions in Bamenda-Cameroon: Perceptions of Students and Teachers

Abstract

Cooperative learning is an effective teaching strategy that maximizes student’s learning. A descriptive study involving 219 nursing students and 27 teachers used a self-administered questionnaire to determine the approaches of cooperative learning and perceptions of nursing students and teachers in Bamenda. The study set to assess the use of cooperative learning in Bamenda-Cameroon, identify the techniques implemented, highlight its achievements, challenges and describe students’ and teachers’ perceptions. The table of random numbers was used to obtain a probability sample of students while teachers were conveniently sampled. Data were collected using a modified Cooperative Learning Implementation Questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 20.0 at an alpha level of 0.05. Descriptive statistics was used to summarise numerical data, Correlation analysis through the Pearson Product Moment correlation test was used to test the relationship between cooperative learning and students’ achievement, while t-test was used to compare the perceptions of students and teachers on cooperative learning. The margin of error was set at P ≤ 0.05. Eventually, cooperative learning was noted to be occasionally used in Bamenda, with learning together, think-pair-share, group investigation and peer instruction identified as the methods often used.. The achievements of cooperative learning were affirmed with almost no disadvantage as the use of cooperative learning was observed to always improve students’ achievement. Both groups of respondents indicated their love for cooperative learning and willingness to implement it but did not really agree on how it was implemented. Within the perspectives of this study, it was observed that cooperative learning existed as an informal technique of education in Bamenda.