The Development of Problem Solving Ability in Mathematics for Grade 7 Students using Open Approach

Abstract

The objectives of this study were l) to develop grade 7 students’ problem solving in mathematics using Open Approach so that the students made a mean problem solving in mathematics score of 70% of the full marks or better on mathematics, and that at least 70% of the target group pass the criterion and 2) to enhance the students’ learning achievement in mathematics using Open Approach so that the students made a mean learning achievement score of 70% or better in mathematics, and that at least 70% of the target group pass the criterion. The target group consisted of 18 grade 7 students in Nakokwittayakarn School in Nongbualumphu Province, under The Office of Secondary Education Service Area 19, during the first semester of the 2018 academic year. The study followed Action Research procedures for data collection, and the research tools used in  the 3 spirals of action consisted of 1) 12 lesson plans on M21101, Basic Mathematics 1 using the Open Approach which took 12 instructional periods to complete, 2) reflection tool which comprised a teacher’s teaching behavior recording form, a student studying behavior recording form, a student learning achievement recording form, a student interview form  and end-of-spiral quizzes 1-3 and 3) evaluation tool which comprised a 4-question  essay test on the students’ mathematics solving ability and a 20-item, 4-choice objective test on the students’ learning achievement in mathematics.  Analysis of the collected quantitative data was made by means of calculating arithmetic mean, standard deviation and percentage, while the qualitative data were analyzed by means of testing content validity.

The findings show that: 1) The students made a mean score of 30.89 or 77.22%      of the full marks in mathematics solving ability and 14 students or 77.78% of the target group passed the criterion of 70% which is higher than the prescribed criterion. and            2) The students made a mean learning achievement score of 14.50 or 72.50% of the full marks and 13 students or 72.22% of the target group passed the criterion of 70% which is higher than the prescribed criterion.