LATAM Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Asunción, Paraguay.
ISSN en lÃnea: 2789-3855, septiembre, 2024, Volumen V, Número 5 p 1778.
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill critical to academic success across disciplines. It
encompasses not only the ability to decode text but also to understand, interpret, and critically analyze
information. In secondary education, strong reading comprehension skills are vital as they enable
students to grasp complex concepts, perform well in assessments, and engage in lifelong learning.
Despite reading comprehension's significance, many students find it difficult because of a variety of
issues, such as inadequate support systems and inefficient teaching methods.
Cooperative learning is recognized as an effective teaching strategy that employs peer interactions and
collaboration to enhance student achievement. This strategy involves organizing classroom projects
such that students work in small groups to achieve common educational goals. Cooperative learning
is predicated on social constructivism, which holds that knowledge is created via interactions and
shared experiences. Cooperative learning fosters a positive and engaging environment for students to
improve critical thinking skills, increase involvement, and achieve academic success.
LITERATURE REVIEW
A significant amount of research has investigated the factors that impact reading comprehension and
the efficacy of different teaching methods. Conventional techniques like direct teaching and solo
studies are commonly utilized but frequently do not cater to the varying requirements of learners. On
the other hand, cooperative learning has demonstrated considerable advantages. Research has shown
that collaborative learning can boost students' comprehension of texts, enhance their skills in drawing
conclusions and analyzing information, and improve their academic performance overall, for instance,
(Slavin, 1996) discovered that students who participated in cooperative learning activities
demonstrated better progress in reading comprehension than those who were taught using traditional
methods.
Furthermore, research by (Johnson y Johnson, 2009). emphasized the beneficial effects of cooperative
learning on student motivation and engagement. Their examination of 164 studies found that
cooperative learning enhanced academic achievement, built strong social connections, and boosted
students' self-confidence. These results highlight the capability of cooperative learning in overcoming
obstacles related to reading comprehension, indicating its potential advantage in situations where
traditional approaches have been ineffective.
Problem Statement
Despite rising data supporting cooperative learning, many educational institutions continue to use
traditional teaching approaches that may not properly assist all students. At Unidad Educativa del
Milenio Simón BolÃvar in Pimocha, Babahoyo, Ecuador, students struggle with improving reading
comprehension. These challenges are exacerbated by variables such as restricted access to resources,
varying levels of prior knowledge, and a lack of customized instructional strategies. As a result, there is
a critical need to investigate and apply creative teaching strategies that can better meet students'
learning goals and improve their reading comprehension skills.
Research Objectives
The main purpose of this research is to assess how effective cooperative learning methods are in
enhancing reading comprehension skills in tenth-grade students at Unidad Educativa del Milenio Simón
BolÃvar. In particular, the research aims to: