USING HEURISTIC STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE MATHEMATICS PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY OF GRADE 10 STUDENTS

Authors

  • Attakan Vongyai Faculty of Education, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Tipparat Noparit Faculty of Education, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20319/pijss.2019.51.952968

Keywords:

Heuristic Method, Problem solving, Functions and Relations

Abstract

The main purposes of the research were to investigate how to teach Heuristic strategies to promote students solving the problem, and to study the ability of tenth grade students who had been taught to solve mathematic problems by utilizing the Heuristic method. The target group consisted of 47 grade 10 students at Wattanothai Payap school, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The researcher conducted classroom action research with 3 cycles. Instruments included lesson plans, students’ written work, and the problem-solving ability test. Data was analyzed by frequency, percentage, and content analysis. The results showed that 1) The teaching approach utilizing Heuristic strategies used in this research consisted of the following steps: the teacher encouraged the students to experiment by using their own strategies, then challenged them to utilize the complicated strategies, Guess-check-revise, Systematic experimentation (making a table, equation), and Use of graph of function. 2) Results from the test showed that 35 students of the 47 students (74.46%) passed the criteria (70% of total score). The strategies most students used were Systematic experimentation, and Guess-check-revise, and Use of graphs of function, respectively. From the results, the researcher learned that the key success factors that made students dare to solve problems, were to give them more tools to use and more opportunities to learn from each other. Students were able to freely choose their own way to solve problems without any fear.

References

Abeygunawardena, K. A. V. & Vithanapathirana, M. V. (2019). The role of teacher to address issues of disruptive behaviour of student learners in mathematics classrooms: A study in the Sri Lankan context. PUPIL: International Journal of Teaching, Education and Learning,2(3), 152-173. https://doi.org/10.20319/pijtel.2019.23.152173

Apostol, M. D. (2017). Problem solving heuristics on non-routine problems of college students. American Journal of Educational Research, 5(3), 338-343.

Cai, J. (2003). What research tells us about teaching mathematics through problem solving. Research and issues in teaching mathematics through problem solving, 241-254.

Cai, J., & Lester, F. (2010). Why is teaching with problem solving important to student learning. National council of teachers of mathematics, 13(12), 1-6.

Carson, J. (2007). A problem with problem solving: Teaching thinking without teaching knowledge. The Mathematics Educator, 17(2).

Fan, L., & Zhu, Y. (2007). Representation of problem-solving procedures: A comparative look at China, Singapore, and US mathematics textbooks. Educational studies in Mathematics, 66(1), 61-75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-006-9069-6

Gurat, M. G. (2018). Mathematical problem-solving strategies among student teachers. Journal of Efficiency & Responsibility in Education & Science, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.7160/eriesj.2018.110302

Hoon, T. S., Kee, K. L., & Singh, P. (2013). Learning mathematics using heuristic approach. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 90, 862-869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.07.162

Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (1988). The action research planner. Victoria: Deakin University Press.

Kiong, L. N., Yong, H. T., Hoe, L. S., & Ying, L. C. (2014). Will heuristics enhance the success of mathematics problem solving? Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228770192

Koichu, B., Berman, A., & Moore, M. (2004). Promotion of heuristic literacy in a regular mathematics classroom. For the Learning of Mathematics, 24(1), 33-39.

Novotná, J., Eisenmann, P., Přibyl, J., Ondrušová, J., & Břehovský, J. (2014). Problem solving in school mathematics based on heuristic strategies. Journal on Efficiency and Responsibility in Education and Science, 7(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.7160/eriesj.2014.070101

Ofori-Kusi, D. (2017). An investigation into the use of problem-solving heuristics to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics. (Doctor of Philosophy), South Africa.

Pape, S. J., & Wang, C. (2003). Middle school children's strategic behavior: Classification and relation to academic achievement and mathematical problem solving. Instructional Science, 31(6), 419-449. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025710707285

Pólya, G. (1954). Mathematics and plausible reasoning: Induction and analogy in mathematics.NJ: Princeton University Press.

Polya, G. (2004). How to solve it: A new aspect of mathematical method. Princeton university press.

Ramnarain, U. (2014). Empowering educationally disadvantaged mathematics students through a strategies-based problem solving approach. The Australian Educational Researcher, 41(1), 43-57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-013-0098-8

Ridgway, J., Judith, S., Zawojewski, J. S., Hoover, M. N., & Diana Lambdin, D. (2002). Student attainment in the connected mathematics curriculum. In S. Senk & D. Thompson (Eds.), Standardsoriented school mathematics curricula: What are they? What do students learn?. Mahwah: Erlbaum.

Scafa, O. (2014). Heuristically oriented systems of problems in teaching mathematics. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching, 7(1), 85-92.

Schoenfeld, A. H. (1985). Heuristics in the classroom. Problem solving in school mathematics, 9-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-628870-4.50009-8

Villonez, G. L. (2018). Use of sim (strategic intervention material) as strategy and the academic achievement of grade 7 students on selected topic in earth science. PUPIL: International Journal of Teaching, Education and Learning, 2(3), 78-88. https://doi.org/10.20319/pijtel.2018.23.7888

Downloads

Published

2019-07-04

How to Cite

Vongyai, A., & Noparit, T. (2019). USING HEURISTIC STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE MATHEMATICS PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY OF GRADE 10 STUDENTS. PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences, 5(1), 952–968. https://doi.org/10.20319/pijss.2019.51.952968