Problem-solving Performance Of Students Research Articles

The Role of Opportunity to Learn on Student Mathematics Anxiety, Problem-Solving Performance, and Mathematics Performance.

This study examined the effects of opportunity to learn (OTL) or the content coverage in mathematics on student mathematics anxiety, problem-solving performance, and mathematics performance. The pathways examining the influences of OTL on student problem-solving performance and mathematics performance via mathematics anxiety were also tested. A sample of 1,676 students from Shanghai-China, and a sample of 1,511 students from the United States who participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 were used for the analyses. The results from multilevel models and path models supported our hypotheses that OTL not only showed significant direct effects on student mathematics anxiety, problem-solving performance, and mathematics performance, but also presented indirect effects on student problem-solving performance and mathematics performance via mathematics anxiety in both Shanghai-China and United States, controlling for student gender, grade, and socioeconomic status. The practical implications of the current results were also discussed.

Investigation of Effects of Cognitive Strategies and Metacognitive Functions on Mathematical Problem- Solving Performance of Students with or Without Learning Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of cognitive strategies and metacognitive functions of students with learning disabilities (LD), students with low-achieving (LA), and students with average-achieving (AA) over their math problem-solving performance. The study sample consisted of 150 students with 50 students from each group. Study data were collected through Think-Aloud Protocols, Metacognitive Experiences Questionnaire, Math Problem Solving Assessment-Short Form, and 10 math problems. Study findings revealed that the significant predictors of math problem-solving performance were metacognitive strategies and experiences regarding students with LD, metacognitive strategies and knowledge considering students with LA, and metacognitive strategies in students with AA. A statistically significant relationship was found between problem-solving performance of students with LD and their metacognitive strategies and metacognitive experiences. Problem-solving performance and metacognitive strategies of students with LA were found to be close to a high level, and their metacognitive knowledge had a moderate relationship. It was also observed to be moderately related to problem-solving performance and metacognitive strategies in students with AA. The findings were discussed within the relevant literature scope, and suggestions were made for teachers in terms of implementation and researchers for further studies.

Assessing impact of a Teacher professional development program on student problem-solving performance

In this paper we report on the impact of a year-long teacher professional development (PD) workshop on student problem-solving skills. The PD workshop was held in Chile and promoted the use of collaborative problem-solving activities in the classroom, through monthly sessions during the school year. Participant teachers met with a monitor to solve a new problem collaboratively, plan a problem-solving activity for their next lesson, and reflect on their activities from their previous lesson. The study documents the performance of two groups of students when solving non-routine mathematics problems in two similar and non-equal tests consisting of three problems each, before and after the year of application of the workshop. The first group of students was the experimental group with collaborative problem-solving activities, as proposed in the PD workshop. The second group was the control group, composed of students whose teachers followed traditional teaching. In the first part of the paper we present the results of pre- and post-tests in which the students in the experimental group improved their problem-solving performance in a significant way compared with the control group. In the second part, we present a sample of representation strategy used by successful students in both groups and we discuss, in general, student strategies in solving test problems.

Effective Assessment of Workplace Problem-Solving in Higher Education

Aim/Purpose: Within higher education, graduating students who are able to solve ill-structured, complex, open-ended, and collaborative, workplace problems is recognized as paramount. Because of this, there is a need to assess this skill across the curriculum. Background: This paper addresses this issue by assessing problem-solving across a computing curriculum using an assessment instrument shown to be reliable and valid. Methodology: The method is based upon the implementation of the assessment instrument that uses a scenario-based asynchronous discussion board measuring the ability of student groups to solve workplace problems. The sample are computing students from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th year, and master’s levels at a UAE university. Contribution: This paper shows the problem-solving skills of students over four years of study across a computing curriculum and demonstrates the effectiveness of the instrument. Findings: There was a general increase in student problem-solving performance from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th year, and master’s levels, but students often failed to meet the expected level of performance for their year of study. In addition, the instrument was effective in assessing problem-solving. Recommendations for Practitioners: This assessment instrument, or one similar, that uses a scenario-based asynchronous discussion board can be used to measure the ability of student groups to solve workplace problems. Impact on Society: Students must be prepared to solve workplace problems to meet the needs of 21st century employment. Future Research: Further research should be conducted with this assessment instrument, or one similar, outside of this fairly unique UAE- based context.

Pengaruh Pemberian Soal Matematika Jenis Open-Ended Problems Terhadap Kemampuan Siswa Memecahkan Masalah Program Linier

[Title: The Effect of Open-Ended Problems on Mathematics Problem toward Students' Ability in Solving Linear Program Problems]. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the provision of linear program mathematical problems in the form of open-ended problems can affect students' problem-solving abilities. This research is an experiment with one sample group, 28 students of class XI IPA-2 in SMA Negeri 7 Mataram. Data was collected through tests and interviews that were statistically analyzed both descriptive and inferential. The validity of mathematical problems is based on expert judgment while the reliability is tested using product-moment correlation. Pre-test and post-test data have been tested both homogeneous and normally distributed. The homogeneity test uses the F-test statistics and the normality test uses the interpretation of skewness and kurtosis. The influence test is performed using one-party t-test statistics. Student problem-solving performance was assessed using a holistic rubric. All data is processed using data analysis tools on Microsoft Excel. This experiment showed success by obtaining an average test score of students when the pre-test was 39.58 which then increased when the post-test became 79.76. This increase was statistically significant as evidenced by the one-party t-test where tcount = 37.33> ttable = 1.67 at α = 0.05, which means that Ha was accepted. So it can be concluded that there is an effect of the treatment given a mathematical problem in the form of open-ended problems to the ability of students to solve linear program problems.

On Solving Mathematical Problems the Spatial-Visual Ways

This study investigated the effectiveness of spatial-visualization-based instruction on the mathematical problem-solving performance of 35 mathematics education students using one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. It also aimed to describe how spatial visualization is applied in solving mathematical problems. The findings of the study revealed that spatial-visualization-based instruction improved the mathematical problem-solving performance of students. The spatial-visualization ability can be applied in solving mathematical problems.

A Meta-Analysis of Schema Instruction Implemented in Single-Case Experimental Designs

Identifying mathematical interventions that practitioners can implement to improve the mathematical problem solving (PS) of students is a need for the field. Literature on the PS performance of students with disabilities has grown; recently, schema instruction (SI) has been suggested as an evidence-based practice. The purpose of this study was to meta-analyze single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) that implemented SI with students identified with disabilities. A total of 16 studies, with 61 students identified with disabilities met the inclusion criteria. Tau U was used to report intervention effects; this decision was made because it is more robust than other nonoverlap methods and is frequently reported in published meta-analyses of SCEDs. Moderator analyses included grade of participants, use of technology, disability category, and the type of problems taught. The weighted aggregated Tau U was 88.29% (90% confidence interval [CI] = [80.5%, 96.1%]). Moderator analysis and implications for practice are discussed.

The Role of Beliefs and Motivational Variables in Enhancing Word Problem Solving

ABSTRACTA Word Problem Enrichment programme (WPE) has been found to increase student word problem solving performance when facing non-routine and application problems. However, it is unknown if the WPE has an impact on student beliefs about word problem solving and how the WPE works for students with different motivation in learning mathematics. This study investigated the impact of the WPE on student beliefs about word problem solving by using Latent Profile Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling to analyse relations among the different cognitive, motivation, and belief factors. A total of 170 fourth- and sixth-grade students from elementary schools participated. Results showed that the effects of WPE are various depending on students’ initial motivation level. The impacts of the WPE on student beliefs were found only in students with a low initial motivation level, while its impacts on student problem-solving performance were found only in students with a high initial motivation level.

Effects of Computer-Mediated Versus Teacher-Mediated Instruction on the Mathematical Word Problem-Solving Performance of Third-Grade Students With Mathematical Difficulties

This study compared the effectiveness of computer-mediated instruction (CMI) and teacher-mediated instruction (TMI) on the word problem-solving performance of students struggling in mathematics. Both conditions integrated cognitive modeling that focused on the problem structure using visual representations with critical instructional elements specifically targeting the needs of at-risk students. Participants were 25 third-grade students with mathematics difficulties who were randomly assigned to either a TMI or a CMI condition. Results indicated no statistically significant between-condition differences at posttest and on a 4-week retention test of word problem-solving. Furthermore, there was no transfer of the word problem-solving skills to a school administered, standardized mathematics achievement test. Implications for educational practice are discussed.

Implementing Concept-based Learning in a Large Undergraduate Classroom

An experiment explicitly introducing learning strategies to a large, first-year undergraduate cell biology course was undertaken to see whether awareness and use of strategies had a measurable impact on student performance. The construction of concept maps was selected as the strategy to be introduced because of an inherent coherence with a course structured by concepts. Data were collected over three different semesters of an introductory cell biology course, all teaching similar course material with the same professor and all evaluated using similar examinations. The first group, used as a control, did not construct concept maps, the second group constructed individual concept maps, and the third group first constructed individual maps then validated their maps in small teams to provide peer feedback about the individual maps. Assessment of the experiment involved student performance on the final exam, anonymous polls of student perceptions, failure rate, and retention of information at the start of the following year. The main conclusion drawn is that concept maps without feedback have no significant effect on student performance, whereas concept maps with feedback produced a measurable increase in student problem-solving performance and a decrease in failure rates.

Strategic Improvement of Mathematical Problem-Solving Performance of Secondary School Students Using Procedural and Conceptual Learning Strategies.

The paper examined the possibility of finding out if improvements in students’ problem solving performance in simultaneous linear equation will be recorded with the use of procedural and conceptual learning strategies and in addition to find out which of the strategies will be more effective. The study adopted a pretest, post test control group design. A total of 166 science students drawn from four schools in four local government Areas in Osun state of south-western Nigeria were involved in the study. The students were in Senior Secondary Class Two. These students were assigned to four groups of Conceptual Learning Strategy (CLS), Procedural Learning Strategy (PLS) and Conventional Method (CM) while the fourth group was not taught at all. The first two groups were the experimental groups and the control groups were the last two groups. Treatment was administered for a period of eight weeks. A mathematical achievement test was used as pretest and posttest after validation and was found to have reliability coefficient of 0.76 and item difficulty level ranging between 0.42 and 0.46. Three mathematics teachers who were university graduates were engaged to administer the treatment. The study recorded a significant difference between the problem-solving performance of students in the CLS group and those in the CM group (X1=30.71, X2 = 15.66, df =78, t = 16.56, p<0.05).Significant difference in performance was also recorded between PLS group and CM group (X1 = 24.07, X2 = 15.66, df =80, t = 10.95, p<0.05). Likewise performance of students in CLS group and those in PLS group differed significantly (X1=30.71, X2 = 24.07, df = 84, t = 7.98, p< 0.05). The study therefore concluded that both CLS and PLS were effective in enhancing students problem-solving performance and that conceptual learning strategy was more effective. Key words: Procedural Learning Strategy,conceptual learning strategy, mathematimatical problem-solving performance.

Effects of representation on students solving physics problems: A fine-grained characterization

Recent papers document that student problem-solving competence varies (often strongly) with representational format, and that there are significant differences between the effects that traditional and reform-based instructional environments have on these competences [Kohl and Finkelstein, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 1, 010104 (2005); Kohl and Finkelstein, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 2, 010102 (2006)]. These studies focused on large-lecture introductory physics courses, and included aggregate data on student performance on quizzes and homeworks. In this paper, we complement previous papers with finer-grained in-depth problem-solving interviews. In 16 interviews of students drawn from these classes, we investigate in more detail how and when student problem-solving performance varies with problem representation (verbal, mathematical, graphical, or pictorial). We find that student strategy often varies with representation, and that in this environment students who show more strategy variation tend to perform more poorly. We also verify that student performance depends sensitively on the particular combination of representation, topic, and student prior knowledge. Finally, we confirm that students have generally robust opinions of their representational skills, and that these opinions correlate poorly with their actual performances.

Scaffolding students’ problem-solving processes in an ill-structured task using question prompts and peer interactions

This study examined the effects of question prompts and peer interactions in scaffolding undergraduate students’ problem-solving processes in an ill-structured task in problem representation, developing solutions, making justifications, and monitoring and evaluating. A quasi-experimental study, supplemented by multiple-case studies, was conducted to investigate both the outcomes and the processes of student problem-solving performance. The quantitative outcomes revealed that question prompts had significantly positive effects on student problem-solving performance but peer interactions did not show significant effects. The qualitative findings, however, did indicate some positive effects of peer interactions in facilitating cognitive thinking and metacognitive skills. The study suggests that the peer interaction process itself must be guided and monitored with various strategies, including question prompts, in order to maximize its benefits.

Impact at the student level: a study of the effects of a teacher development intervention on students' mathematical thinking

This research was conducted to study the impact on students of a long-term professional development intervention in mathematics for teachers in a low-wealth, urban school district. The emphasis in this assessment design was on obtaining a more accurate picture of student's problem-solving performance which challenged us to raise our expectations about student success from improved standardized test score data to an approach that focused on the way students think about mathematical tasks. The design used in this assessment provides a framework for considering teacher development and student assessment simultaneously. Results show that students taught by project teachers performed better in both classroom problem-solving activities and task-based interviews than students taught by nonproject teachers. In addition, there were major differences in the problem-solving behaviors of the two groups. Experimental students (students of project teachers) displayed greater mathematical confidence, and were more likely to see mathematics as a powerful way of thinking about the real world and approach mathematics as such.

Assessment practices and students' knowledge profiles in a problem-based curriculum

Since the mid-1980s, many new terms have enriched the assessment literature, such as performance assessment, authentic assessment, direct assessment and curriculum-embedded assessment. This boom is a result of changes in instructional as well as in assessment approaches. Criteria for good instruction as well as good assessment practices are suggested, derived from research-based models in the field of cognitive psychology and expert-novice studies. This article first reports on the translation of these criteria into a set of the characteristics of the assessment system of a problem-based curriculum in the field of Economics and Business Administration. Secondly, the article reports a study on improving assessment practices. Is it important to map students' knowledge profiles when attempting to remediate problem-solving performances? The answer to this question depends on the extent to which a student's problem-solving performance is influenced by the quality of his/her knowledge profile. Students' knowledge profile is measured by a Knowledge Test and a Sorting Task. Students' problem-solving skills are assessed by an Overall Test. The results indicate that students with an organised knowledge base perform better in problem-solving situations than students whose conceptual models are loosely structured. The implications of these findings for instruction as well as for assessment are discussed.