Abstract
Although students' problem-solving and critical thinking skills have been set as the main goal of the mathematics subject, the results tend to be unsatisfactory. This study aims to improve students' mathematical problem-solving and critical thinking skills using problem-based learning (PBL). A quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study which involved 78 (31 males and 47 females) fifth-grade students as the sample. The students were divided into two groups, namely the experimental group (n = 39) and the control group (n = 39). This study was conducted in an Indonesian elementary school in its first semester of the 2019/2020 school year. The Problem-Solving Skills Test (PSST) and Critical Thinking Skills Test (CTST) were administered to obtain the data. One-Way MANOVA and ANOVA tests were used to analyze the data at a significance level of .05. The results showed that students in the experimental group had higher post-test scores compared to the control group in terms of mathematical problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Thus, it can be concluded that PBL effectively promoted fifth-grade students' problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Highlights
Mathematical problem-solving and critical thinking skills are two essential skills in learning mathematics in the twenty-first century
The results showed that students in the experimental group had higher post-test scores compared to the control group in terms of mathematical problem-solving and critical thinking skills
Some literature showed that problem-solving is associated with how students are actively involved in solving mathematical problems that support the development of their problem-solving competencies [3,4]
Summary
Mathematical problem-solving and critical thinking skills are two essential skills in learning mathematics in the twenty-first century. Problem-solving skills are part of the transferable skills that students need to work with other students to find, analyze, synthesize, and apply knowledge to new situations [1]. Some literature showed that problem-solving is associated with how students are actively involved in solving mathematical problems that support the development of their problem-solving competencies [3,4]. The importance of improving problem-solving skills was stated by Andrews and Xenofontos [5] that these essential skills are needed by students to evaluate mathematical information and solve problems in daily life. NCTM [3] suggested that teachers develop students’ mathematical problem-solving early. Problem-solving skills are required to be possessed by children from the elementary school level
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