Problem-solving processes of mathematically gifted and non-gifted students

Download
2021-8-17
Sipahi, Yasemin
This study aimed to investigate the use of problem-solving phases and strategies of seven mathematically gifted, seven successful, and six average students attending fifth-grade in different public and private schools. The participants were selected through purposeful sampling among those who volunteered to participate in the study in a city in Western Turkey. The study was designed as a qualitative case study. Data were collected through clinical task-based interviews that included six problems, researchers’ field notes, and students’ solution sheets. All sessions were audio-recorded. Participants’ observation forms, solution sheets, and voice recordings were analyzed to determine the problem-solving phases suggested by Polya (2004) and strategies used as they attempted to solve each problem. The results showed that three groups of participants varied concerning the use and style of problem-solving phases and problem-solving strategies. Mathematically gifted students presented a higher number of attempts in applying problem-solving phases. They applied the phases sequentially while successful and average students applied them as not sequentially. Mathematically gifted students were also observed as using problem-solving strategies most and most efficiently. Adopting a different point of view and acting it out or simulation strategies were the most preferred and effectively used strategies by them while logical reasoning was the most used strategy by successful and average participants. However, logical reasoning was not utilized most effectively by the successful students. Mathematically gifted students were the most successful group in generalization and considering all conditions in a problem when using a problem-solving strategy.

Suggestions

Investigation of the effects of problem solving instruction on fifth grade students’ mathematical problem solving performance
Kanar, Özge; Bulut, Safure; Department of Mathematics Education (2022-2-04)
The primary purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of problem solving instruction on 5th grade students’ mathematical problem solving performance across the three time periods. Also, the other aim of the study was to examine the relationship between 5th grade students’ mathematical problem solving performance scores of Well-Structured Problem Solving Tests (WSPST) and Ill-Structured Problem Solving Tests (ISPST) after the problem solving instruction. In addition to that, exploring s...
Multiple Intelligence and Creative Drama Practices with Disadvantaged Groups
Taneri, Pervin Oya; Ceyla, Arca (2015-04-01)
This study investigates the effectiveness of multiple intelligence activities and creative drama sessions in a disadvantaged school from the perspectives of teachers and students. The data were collected in 2013-2014 academic year by using document analysis, questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The participants of this study were 80 3 rd grade students, 30 teachers from a public school and 40 parents in Ankara, Turkey. The students were assigned control and experiment groups. In the control groups ...
The effects of multiple intelligences based instruction on sixth graders' science achievement and attitudes towards science
Akbaş, Aydın; Sancar, Mehmet Tevfik; Department of Secondary Science and Mathematics Education (2004)
The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of multiple intelligences based instruction on sixth grade students? science achievement, and attitudes towards science. This experimental research was conducted in the 2nd term of 2002 ? 2003 educational year with sixth graders in METU Ankara College Primary School, and lasted for three weeks. A randomly chosen class was assigned to the experimental group and instructed by Multiple Intelligences Science Instruction, and the other randomly chosen class...
Preschool children's perceptions on human-environment relationship: follow-up research
Cengizoğlu, Seçil; Olgan, Refika; Teksöz, Gaye (Informa UK Limited, 2020-05-01)
In the current study, we focus on how the early childhood education for sustainability (ECEfS) program develops the perceptions of preschool children about the human-environment relationship. The sample of the study consisted of preschoolers aged 60-66 months in Ankara, Turkey. The data were collected through the drawings of children on the topic of 'human-environment' and interviews on drawings obtained before and after the program. The findings revealed that children perceive their environment as a peacef...
MATHEMATICS ANXIETY AND MATHEMATICAL SELF-CONCEPT: CONSIDERATIONS IN PREPARING ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL TEACHERS
Işıksal Bostan, Mine; Koc, Yusuf; Aşkun, Cengiz Savaş (Scientific Journal Publishers Ltd, 2009-01-01)
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of type of educational system and years spent in teacher education programs on preservice teachers' mathematics anxiety and mathematical self-concept scores. The sample consisted of 234 American and 276 Turkish early childhood and elementary school preservice teachers. The Abbreviated Mathematics Anxiety Scale (AMAS; Hopko, 2003) was used to measure how anxious preservice teachers feel during a specific mathematics related event. In order to measure the m...
Citation Formats
Y. Sipahi, “Problem-solving processes of mathematically gifted and non-gifted students,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2021.