The Development of Ability to Solve Mathematical Problems of the 4th Elementary School Students Using an Open Approach

Abstract

The research article aimed to investigate the progress of 4^th year elementary school students’ ability to solve mathematical problems after receiving the learning activities through an open approach. The study employed experimental research. The sample group included 7 students from the 4^th year elementary school students from Ban Thung Mai Phai School, in the academic year B.E. 2564, who were chosen by simple random sampling. The study used learning activity plans with an open approach, field study recording forms, and video recordings as instruments. The collected data were subjected to content analysis using information from students' problem-solving protocols, student accomplishments, and the field study recording form. Based on Polya's problem solving process, the study was conducted to examine the ability for mathematical problem solving. The percentage and mean statistics were used for the analysis.

The study's findings revealed that the progress of 4^th year elementary school students’ ability to solve mathematical problems on angles increased from 71.43 percent to 100 percent after receiving learning activities through an open approach. Students' ability to solve mathematical problems was increased with four-step problem-solving processes, namely, 1) comprehending problem, in which students have a habit of expressing their ideas in their own languages and evaluating circumstances one time or many times; 2) planning solutions to problems, where students use gestures and speech as a means of expression; 3) executing plans, where students use approaches to solve problems according to the plan; and 4) investigating, where students express themselves by investigating their answers and solutions to problems.