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Effectiveness of Collaborative Learning to Enhance Problem Solving Skills in Mathematics T.V.S. Prakasarao* Te group members in collaborative learning will have positive inter-dependence wherein individual and group accountability will be found. Te type of learning will enhance the social skills such as decision making, trust building, efective communication and confict management skills. Objective: A study to examine the efectiveness of individual learning verus collaborative learning in enhancing problem solving skills in Mathematics of Class VIII students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Deogarh (Dist.) Orissa. Sample 38 students (25 Boys and 13 Girls) of Class VIII of J. N.V. Deogarh Methodology: In the present study 38 students of Class VIII were selected. Based on their previous academic performance in Mathematics and classroom interaction they were divided into two heterogeneous groups. Initially the teacher taught the lesson mensuration to the entire class. It was based on the measurement of volume of the cuboids. A pre-test was conducted and the average score of each group was not signifcantly diferent from each other. Next one group was randomly assigned to the individual learning group, while other group was assigned to the collaborative learning group. Te two groups worked separately. In individual learning the students worked on the various numerical problems based on the topic by themselves at their own pace. In collaborative learning an instruction sheet that pointed out the key elements of collaborative process was given and explained. Te entire group was divided into three smaller groups with group size of six. Ten the students were encouraged to discuss the process of solving the problems given on the topic. During this stage students shared their understanding and problem-solving skills among themselves and collectively solved the given numerical problems. To attain frst hand information on application of the mensuration in daily life, these groups were asked to measure the water-storage capacity of the open cubiod tank of the Vidyalaya. Te group members enthusiastically applied their mathematical skills and measured the volume. Ten a post-test was conducted for both the groups by using a well balanced question paper prepared on classifcation of Blooms Taxonomy, to measure the students problem-solving skills. Te post-test scores were subjected to necessary stastical analysis. Result Discussions: After conducting a statistical analysis on the test scores , it was found that students who participated in collaborative learning had performed signifcantly better on problem-solving skills than the students who studied * Principal, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Deogarh, Odisha 24 Collaborative Learning