The Development of an Instructional Process for Enhancing Mathematical Problem Solving ability

Abstract

Developing ideas for problem solving is the key to educational management, enabling students to apply knowledge and ability to solve problems in the situation that has faced.The researcher conducted research and development. The purposes of this research and development study were (1) to develop an instructional process for enhancing mathematical problem solving ability by using mathematical modeling, Model-Eliciting Activities (MEAs) and mathematical connections and (2) to study the implementation of the developed instructional process. The instructional process was implemented to eighth grade students of Suan Taeng Wittaya School during the second semester of the academic year 2015 and 2016. The research instrumented were 1) mathematical problem solving ability test, 2) 24-period lesson plans, and 3) student learning log. The quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and dependent sample t-test. Content analysis was utilized to analyze the qualitative data. The research findings were as follows: The instructional process to enhance the ability for solving mathematical problems consists of six steps: 1) knowledge or problem orientation, 2) mathematical problem recognition, 3) mathematical problem solving, 4) sharing experience, 5) evaluation for development, and 6) practice and knowledge extension. Additionally, the students’ mathematical problem solving ability after learning was higher than before through this instructional process at .05 level of significant both overall and by each lesson. The students had progressively improve their abilities to solve mathematical problems. The students’ reflection showed that they had sufficient knowledge to solve and extend problems. They could recognize their trouble in solving problems, but only some of them could cope with the difficulties by themselves.