Development of Mathematical Problem Solving Ability by Organizing Learning Activities using Polya’s Problem Solving Process for Grade 10 Students

Abstract

          This research aimed to develop the mathematical problem solving ability of grade 10 students by using Polya’s problem solving process. The result was to be compared with the criterion of 60 percent of the total score. The target group consisted of 32 grade 10 students from Group 11 of Sarakhampittayakhom School, Muang District, Mahasarakham Province, Thailand, in the second semester of the academic year 2018, obtained through purposive sampling. The research instruments comprised 1) 8 plans for organizing learning activities on the topic of the Exponent and Exponential Function, basing on Polya’s problems solving process, and 2) a mathematical problem solving ability test which was a subjective type, having 4 questions basing on the steps of Polya’s problem solving process. The statistics employed in the analysis of data were the mean, percentage and standard deviation. The results of this research were as follows: the mathematical problem solving ability of grade 10 students revealed that, after the third operational cycle of learning with Polya’s problems solving process on the topic of the Exponent and Exponential Function, the target group had the average score of 35.06, representing 73.05 percent of the total score. There were 28 students, or 87.50 percent of the target group, whose scores were higher than the 60 percent criterion.