The analysis of mathematic problem solving ability by polya steps on material trigonometric reviewed from self-regulated learning

Abstract

The problem solving ability is a personal capability to identify the existing condition and relate it to knowledge owned by students. The steps in problem solving according to Polya are problem understanding, planning, implementing and evaluating of problem solving. This is a descriptive qualitative research which aims to describe and analyze students’ ability in problem solving based on Polya’s steps reviewed from self-regulated learning. The subject of the research is two students in each SRL (high, middle, low). The method of collecting data is test and interview. The result of the research comes to the students with high SRL can apply the Polya steps. The students with middle SRL can apply the problem understanding step. In the step of planning, students write the strategy leading to the correct answer but it has not completed yet. In the implementation step, students do the planned strategy but less complete in doing the calculation and they give improper conclusion at the evaluation step. Meanwhile, the students with low SRL can understand the problem by writing down what they know and what is asked. At the planning step, students write the relevant strategy but improper as heading to incorrect answer. At the step of implementation, they do not do the strategy appropriately as well at the stage of evaluation.