The effect of cooperative learning method in ear training on students' anxiety and achievement

Anxiety is a significant educational factor which may effect the gaining of musical audince skills, their effective application, and the evaluation process negatively. The discussions on the traditional teaching approaches' competence regarding the reduction of the anxiety experienced in this field, brings forward the necessity of new approaches to be put into practice. In this study, one of these mentioned new approaches: the cooperative learning's influence on anxiety and success in ear training field is investigated. The study had been carried out with thirty seven students who, are registered to the Music Teacher Training Program of a university of West Blacksea Region, were taking Ear Training lesson IV (ET-IV) in the spring semester of 2010-2011 academic year. The students were grouped in two with reference to their three semester success points' averages; these two sets have appointed as experiment group (ND=19) and control group (NK=18) by using random assignment method. During the eight week study, in experiment group the ET-IV lesson had been practiced by supporting with the `cooperation learning method while ongoing intructional methods had been continued in control group. In the research, experimental model with `pre-test/post-test control groups design was used. The data had been collected by using Music Theory Test, Musical Writing (dictation) Test, Ear Training Lesson Anxiety Scale which are developed by the researchers and State Anxiety Scale which is developed by Spielberger et al (1970). In addition, to be get to know the work groups, Personal Information Form was used. The collected data throughout the research was analyzed with the SPSS-15 program. The data analysis was done according to `paired samples t-test and `independent t-test. According to the results of the study, the cooperative learning; has not been effective on the success increase in music theory and has not been effective on the success increase in musical writing (dictation). The cooperative learning has not affected state anxiety level but has been effective on the anxiety level in ear training lesson positively. Keywords: Ear training, Cooperative learning method, Success in lesson, State anxiety, Ear training lesson anxiety