THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY OF GRADE 6 STUDENTS USING CONSTRUCTIVISM AND POLYA’S PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to develop the mathematical problem-solving ability by using the constructivist and Polya’s problem solving process of grade six students. The objectives of this study were to investigate the development level of the mathematical problem-solving ability, learning behavior, and learning satisfaction of the students who were taught using the constructivist approach along with Polva’s problem solving process. The samples in this study were 25 grade six students. The instruments used to collect the data included a teaching plan, an achievement test, a learning behavior observation form, and a learning satisfaction evaluation form. The relative gain score was used to analyze the data on the mathematical problem-solving ability, while mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data on learning behavior and learning satisfaction of the students. The results showed that the relative gain score of the mathematical problem-solving ability of the students was high or at 61.99% of the expected score. There are 4 groups of students with different development levels including a very high level (28%), a high level (40%), a moderate level (28%), and a low level (4%). Moreover, it was found that the learning behavior of students was good. Finally, the results revealed that the students were highly satisfied with the learning activities which were developed based upon the constructivism and Polva’s problem solving process.