The effect of the enhanced cluster learning strategy on formal thinking in mathematics among middle school female students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59992/IJESA.2025.v4n7p6الكلمات المفتاحية:
Enhanced Cluster Learning Strategy، Formal Thinkingالملخص
The current research aims to investigate the effect of the enhanced cluster learning strategy on formal thinking in mathematics among middle school female students. To achieve this objective, the experimental method was employed, and the study was conducted during the first semester of the 2024/2025 academic year on a stratified random sample. The sample consisted of 80 second-grade female students from Al-Muruj Al-Khadraa Secondary School, affiliated with the Baghdad Al-Rusafa II Directorate of Education. The sample was divided equally into two groups: 40 students in the experimental group and 40 in the control group. The equivalence of the two groups was verified using an intelligence test and a prior knowledge test.
The researcher employed a post-formal thinking test, which included 20 multiple-choice items. The validity and reliability of the test were confirmed. The students' responses were analyzed using an independent samples t-test. The results indicated that the mean score of the experimental group was 12.90 with a standard deviation of 3.801, while the control group had a mean score of 6.93 with a standard deviation of 3.504. The calculated t-value was 7.310, which is higher than the critical t-value of 2 at a significance level of 0.05 and a degree of freedom of 78.
The result indicates that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in the post-test of formal thinking skills. The researcher suggested using the improved cluster learning strategy for teaching mathematics to students of all ages, helping them learn formal thinking skills and how to use them, emphasizing methods that build formal thinking, and taking into account the number of students when creating math programs.
المراجع
• Abu Huwaij, Marwan & Abu Al-Mughli, Samir (2004). Introduction to Educational Psychology, Arabic edition, Dar Al-Yazouri Scientific Publishing and Distribution, Amman, Jordan.
• Abu Jado, Saleh Mohammed (2000). Educational Psychology, 2nd ed., Al-Maseera Publishing, Distribution, and Printing, Amman, Jordan.
• Abu Zeina, Farid Kamel (2010). Development of School Mathematics Curricula and Their Teaching, 1st ed., Wael Publishing and Distribution, Amman, Jordan.
• Abu Zeina, Farid Kamel (2011). School Mathematics Curricula and Their Teaching, 3rd ed., Al-Falah Library for Publishing and Distribution, Kuwait.
• Al-Ajras, Haider (2013). Contemporary Teaching Strategies and Methods. Dar Al-Ridwan for Publishing and Distribution.
• Al-Gharawi, Wissam Khalaf Jassim (2016). Construction of a Test for Formal Thinking Skills among Fifth Grade Scientific Students in Physics. Journal of the College of Basic Education for Educational and Human Sciences, Issue 25, University of Babylon, Iraq.
• Al-Husseini, Haider Hamid (2016). The Effect of the Cluster Umbrella Strategy on the Achievement of Second Grade Intermediate Students in Geography and Their Attitudes toward It. Master’s thesis, College of Education, Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq.
• Al-Jabali, Hamza (2012). Effective Classroom Teaching Skills, 1st ed., Ilm Al-Thaqafa Publishing, Amman, Jordan.
• Al-Janabi, Sarah Kareem Salem (2018). The Effect of the Cube Strategy on Achievement and Formal Thinking among First Intermediate Grade Female Students in Mathematics. Master’s thesis, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
• Al-Jarjari, Khashman Hasan Ali (2003). The Effect of an Educational Program to Develop Formal Thinking Skills among Preparatory Stage Students, Doctoral dissertation, College of Education, University of Mosul, Iraq.
• Al-Kaabi, Karim Bilas Khalaf & Al-Haidari, Aida Aboud Hussein (2018). Effectiveness of the Cluster Umbrella Strategy on Creative Thinking among First Grade Intermediate Female Students in Science. College of Education, University of Qadisiyah, Iraq.
• Al-Kahlan, Thabet bin Saeed & Al-Muharzi, Ibrahim bin Muhammad Musa (2020). The Effect of Using the Developed Cluster Learning Strategy in Teaching Mathematics in High-Density Classes on Academic Achievement and Mathematical Inclinations of Middle School Students. Master’s thesis, College of Education, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia.
• Al-Khalili, Youssef Khalil (1996). Teaching Science in General Education Stages, 1st ed., Al-Qalam Publishing and Distribution, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• Al-Mabrouk, Faraj (2013). Modern Curricula: Foundations and Applications. Dar Hambathra for Publishing and Translation, Cairo, Egypt.
• Al-Mawla, Suleiman (2011). The Effect of a Proposed Strategy Supported by Guided Imagery to Solve Mathematical Problems on Achievement and the Development of Formal Thinking among Fifth Grade Scientific Students. Master’s thesis, University of Mosul, College of Education, Mosul, Iraq.
• Al-Muhrazi, Ibrahim Mohammed Mousa (2017). The Effect of Using a Proposed Strategy for Teaching Mathematics in Classes with High Student Density on Academic Achievement and Mathematical Tendencies among Middle School Students. Master’s thesis, College of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Al-Najdi et al. (1999). Modern Trends in Science Teaching in Light of Global Standards and the Development of Thinking and Constructivist Theory, Dar Al-Fikr Al-Arabi, Cairo, Egypt.
• Al-Otum, Adnan (2013). Developing Thinking Skills, 4th ed., Al-Maseera Publishing, Amman, Jordan.
• Al-Qatami, Naifah (2001). Teaching Thinking for the Basic Stage, Dar Al-Fikr for Printing, Amman, Jordan.
• Al-Saifi, Asif (2013). The Teacher and Teaching Strategies, 1st ed., Osama Publishing House, Amman, Jordan.
• Al-Shaibawi, Majid Sareef Maseer (2016). The Effect of an Instructional Design Based on Divergent Thinking Strategies on the Achievement of Preparatory Stage Students in Physics and Their Formal Thinking. Doctoral dissertation, College of Education for Pure Sciences, Ibn Al-Haytham, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
• Balla, Fadia Faisal (2007). Self-Centered Cognitive Advancement and Its Relation to Identity States, Doctoral dissertation, Institute of Educational Studies, Cairo University, Egypt.
• Habib, Magdy Abdul Karim (1996). Thinking (Theoretical Foundations and Strategies), Al-Nahda Library, Cairo, Egypt.
• Hormoz, Sabah Hanna & Ibrahim, Youssef Hanna (1988). Developmental Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence. Dar Al-Kutub, University of Mosul, Iraq.
• Ibrahim, Magdy (2005). Creative Teaching and Thinking Learning, Thinking, Education and Learning Series (3), Alam Al-Kutub, Cairo, Egypt.
• Malham, Sami Mohammed (2009). Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology, 4th ed., Dar Al-Maseera for Publishing, Distribution, and Printing, Amman, Jordan.
• Piaget, J. & Inhelder, B. (1958). The Growth of Logical Thinking from Children to Adolescence. Translated by Parsons, A. & Milgram, S. Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., London.
• Qatami, Youssef (1990). Children’s Thinking: Its Development and Teaching Methods. Al-Ahliyah for Distribution and Publishing, Amman, Jordan.
• Rabie, Hadi Mishan (2008). Administrative Psychology, 1st ed., Arab Society Publishing and Distribution, Amman, Jordan.
• Saeed, Adnan Hikmah Abdul (1990). The Effect of Using Two Models of Cooperative Learning on Achievement and the Development of Inferential Thinking among First Grade Intermediate Students. Doctoral dissertation, Ibn Al-Haytham College of Education, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
• Salama, Hassan Ali (1995). Methods of Teaching Mathematics between Theory and Practice, 1st ed., Dar Al-Fajr Publishing and Distribution, Cairo, Egypt.
• Zaytoon, Ayesh Mahmoud (2007). Constructivist Theory and Science Teaching Strategies, 1st ed., Dar Al-Shorouk Publishing, Amman, Jordan.
