Search

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between early childhood teacher candidates' empathic tendencies and social problem-solving skills. A total of 187 teacher candidates studying in the department of Early Childhood Education at Duzce University participated in this study. The relational research model, a quantitative research method, was used. The data of this study were collected through a personal information form, the Empathic Tendency Scale, and the Social Problem-Solving Inventory (SPÇE-SF). The researchers analyzed the data using Pearson Correlation and one-way ANOVA with the SPSS program. According to the findings of the study, the empathic tendency levels and social problem-solving skills of the early childhood teacher candidates participating in the research are at moderate levels. In addition, there was a moderate positive relationship between participants' empathic tendencies and social problem-solving skills. Finally, it is seen that the empathic tendencies of the participants do not differ according to personal data such as gender, educational level, mother's and father's educational level, family type, family attitude, number of siblings, and birth order. The participants' social problems-solving skills differed only by gender and number of siblings.

Blind students exclusively use braille materials for teaching math. Teaching tools that assist blind students' motor and hearing nerves are essential for learning. This study was to describe learning mathematics outcomes for blind students after using teaching material for Android devices based on Newman's theory. This research was a case study of blind students. Blind junior high school students from special schools for visual impairment-- extraordinary schools in Bandar Lampung, extraordinary schools in Cimahi, and Madrasah Tsanawiyah with special education in Yogyakarta-- contributed to the study's subjects. The study employed questionnaires and test questions as research instruments for both teachers and students. The results of this study demonstrate that learning mathematics outcame blind students' after using teaching material with Android apps based on Newman's theory, specifically: i) reading errors: students can understand the information in the questions; ii) comprehension errors: students do not write down things that are known and asked; and iii) transformation errors: students write down the mathematical model (formula) used; iv) skill errors: students can do calculations correctly; and v) coding errors: students do not write conclusions. The average score of the blind students' results using braille was higher than that of the Android application.

Mathematics education is looking for innovative methods to foster problem-solving skills in students. This research develops a problem-solving assessment using GeoGebra Classroom, a versatile interactive mathematics software, to revolutionize mathematics formative assessment and improve students' problem-solving skills. This study adopted the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) instructional design model stages. The design stage created a comprehensive assessment blueprint, incorporating GeoGebra Classroom functions to create interactive problem-solving tasks. Data analysis used both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Qualitative data consisted of feedback and suggestions from assessment experts, mathematicians, and GeoGebra specialists. Meanwhile, quantitative data included expert scores and cognitive tests that measured students' problem-solving abilities. A cognitive post-test was conducted to measure the progress of students' understanding while using the assessment product. The results of the content validity analysis, assessed using Aiken's V, ranged from 0.85 to 0.92, indicating a high level of validity for the problem-solving skills assessment in terms of content and construction. Some revisions were made to the design of the developed media to make it more interactive for students. These findings suggest that we can further use problem-solving questions integrated with GeoGebra Classroom to uncover the problem-solving skills of junior high school students.

Purpose: Mathematical literacy and mathematical problem-solving are crucial abilities that link mathematics content to real life applications, facilitating both mathematics understanding and mathematical processes. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the STEMEN (STEM and educational neuroscience) teaching model in enhancing mathematical literacy and problem-solving skills. Methodology: This study adopted a pre-test and post-test control group design. Among 156 Grade 9 students from a secondary school in Phayao, Thailand, 70 were randomly selected. The STEMEN teaching model was implemented in the experimental group, while the 5E teaching model, typically used in a normal classroom was employed in the control group. Two types of tests, namely the mathematical literacy test and the mathematical problem-solving test, were used as research instruments. Pre and post-data were collected from both the experimental and control groups. Repeated measures ANOVA with Wilks' lambda was employed to analyze the mean comparison for mathematical literacy and mathematical problem-solving. Findings: The findings revealed that the mean scores for mathematical literacy and mathematical problem-solving were relatively higher in the STEMEN teaching model group compared to the 5E teaching model group. These results provide insights into the effectiveness of the STEMEN teaching model in enhancing learning outcomes, particularly mathematical literacy and problem-solving in mathematics. Significance: The results of this study showed that the STEMEN teaching model was effective in increasing learning outcomes, including mathematical literacy and problem-solving. These outcomes should enable teachers to design effective and efficient instructional strategies for enhancing mathematical literacy and problem-solving in classrooms.

Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada offers two introductory calculus courses designed for students enrolled in science and engineering programs. Students identified as needing additional support based on their admission grades take the version of the course where students meet weekly for four hours instead of three. A new approach for the fourth hour was introduced in Fall 2019 splitting the class into smaller sections of 20-40 students to work in small groups on vertical whiteboards under the supervision of the instructor, complemented by peer tutors. This format introduces an active learning element that improves student performance and attitude. The project was first implemented in Fall 2019, although interrupted due to COVID-19. After returning to the in-person classroom, the whiteboard seminar program was reinstated. In Fall 2022 and Spring 2023, survey feedback was collected from both students and peer tutors for a more holistic perspective on the program. In this study, the results of these surveys are analyzed, focussing on four areas of measurement: students' satisfaction, learning calculus concepts and problem-solving techniques, the contribution of the instructor, and the contribution of the peer tutors. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three latent variables underlying student survey responses. The survey results suggest that interactions with the instructor, peer tutors, and active learning activities all contributed to students' enjoyment of the course and their perceptions of their own learning. We compared students' final course grades from Fall 2018, where the fourth hour was devoted to lecture before the program was implemented, to Fall 2019 and 2022. The data shows a decrease in the percentage of students failing the course and an increase in those earning A's and B's since the program's implementation. Additionally, survey results show that replacing a typical lecture-style hour with a whiteboard seminar improved students' attitudes and perceptions of the course.

This study aims to determine the effect of using STEAM digital teaching materials on increasing creative problem-solving skills. This study has a quasi-experimental research design with a nonequivalent control group. This study employed a random sampling technique and obtained Class 8-F as the experimental class and Class 8-H as the control class. Data were collected using documentation, tests, and questionnaires. The data analysis carried out was a homogeneity test, normality test, t-test, n-gain test, and analysis of students' responses. According to this study, it can be concluded that there is an effect of STEAM digital teaching materials to increase creative problem-solving skills. The t-test results indicate a significant difference in students' average creative problem-solving skills in the experimental and control classes. The effect of STEAM digital teaching materials is proven by an increase in creative problem-solving skills, which are analyzed using N-gain, resulting in the high category (0.73) for the experimental class with STEAM digital teaching materials and the medium category (0.50) for the control class after using STEAM digital teaching materials.

This research goal to develop a multiple-choice closed-ended test to assessing and evaluate students' digital literacy skills. The sample in this study were students at MTsN 1 Blitar City who were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The test was also validated by experts, namely 2 Doctors of Physics and Science from Yogyakarta State University. The test instrument was developed based on five aspects of digital literacy skills: information, communication, content creation, security and problem-solving. Data have been analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the Rasch version and the assist of Quest software. The results showed that eight multiple-choice closed-ended test instruments were declared valid based on expert validation with an Aiken V value of 1.00. The reliability result is 0.97 with a very high category, and the INFIT MNSQ standard deviation value is 0.86-1.16, so seven items are by the Rasch model. Thus, the seven items in the multiple-choice closed-ended test instrument can be used to assessing and evaluate students' digital literacy skills in learning science.

Are high school students ready for their postgraduate education or a career that may not have been invented yet? As teachers focus on career prep and the necessary future-ready skills in the classroom, teachers are using technology to hone skills necessary for students' future success. Success in higher education or career pursuits requires students to develop a combination of technology through student-centered, project-based learning around the 4Cs (critical thinking/problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity/innovation). The literature on technology skills and 4C skills has historically focused on one set of skills or the other in isolation. This research addresses this gap in the literature by comparing the acquisition of the two skill sets to each other in the same (1:1 technology) environment. This is a mixed methods study using survey data collected from pre-service teachers in an education course. The study aims to understand what technology and 4C skills pre-service teachers who graduated from a 1:1 technology high school possess. The findings of this study showed that the respondents are more prepared and comfortable using their 4C skills than their technology skills. The potential implications of technology and 4C skills deficiencies and strengths on future teaching practices are discussed. technology) environment.

Social studies have been marginalized in early childhood education amid the prevalence of standardized testing and political issues. However, a comprehensive approach to early education, including social studies, is gaining attention. This article emphasizes the significance of incorporating social studies into early childhood curriculum, illuminating its potential to enhance children's cognitive and social-emotional development. The second important aspect of this article focuses on the role of social studies in literacy skill development through building background knowledge, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills of young children.

Culture shapes pupils' mathematical learning, their performances and life trajectories of participation (César, 2013a, 2013b). It also contributes to the senses they attribute to mathematical learning (Bakhtin, 1929/1981). Using collaborative work and interempowerment mechanisms facilitates knowledge appropriation (César, 2009). This is particularly important for pupils participating in minority cultures, socially undervalued and whose L1 is not the instruction language. Bi-univocal culture mediation (César, 2017b) is important regarding empowerment. We used an instrument to evaluate pupils' abilities and competencies (IACC), conceived by the "Interaction and Knowlwdge" (IK) team (Machado, 2014), and other mathematical tasks. The goal we address is to trace the differences between their approaches to problems, mathematical reasoning and solving strategies used by pupils whose L1 is ideographic (Creole, Cape Verde) or phonetic (Portuguese). We developed an intrinsic case study (Stake, 1995). The main participants are the pupils from almost 600 classes (all over Portugal and Cape Verde) who participated in the IK. The analysis of some examples illustrates that L1 shapes pupils' approaches to problems, mathematical reasoning and solving strategies. This evidence plays an important role in their access to school achievement and in teachers' understanding about how they can promote pupils' mathematical learning.

The present study analysed digital literacy issues encountered by elementary school teachers in remote classrooms due to COVID-19. The study sought to derive a plan for cultivating teachers' digital literacy to support students' distance education. To this end, focus group interviews were conducted with five elementary school teachers in charge of upper grades, the results were analysed, and strategies to improve teacher digital literacy were derived. Specifically, three main areas of teacher digital literacy were identified for improvement. The first was providing training to use digital devices and online platforms, develop online content, and strengthen copyright understanding. The second was providing professional development programs to train digital teaching methods or pedagogies by level and by subject characteristics. The third was activating online and offline platforms for information sharing among teachers and establish a digital teaching support system. This study will be of value to teachers and school administrations in preparing for distance education in the era of digital transformation because it presents measures to foster teachers' digital literacy required by future society.

In response to the adoption of Agile practices and processes by businesses, IT/IS educators are working to add Agile content to their courses. Teaching students about Agile involves teaching them about the history, mindset, and values of Agile, along with an introduction to the practices and processes used in an Agile product. Along with this, it is essential that students gain experience using Agile in a project setting. This paper discusses an Agile practice project where students use all aspects of Agile to address a problem and build a solution using Legos. The use of Legos, along with a project that students can easily see themselves using, the practice project allows students to focus on developing their Agile skills and mindset. The project serves as a useful transition from traditional classroom instruction about Agile to a project for a real-world client.

The contents of calculus, known for their complexity, present significant challenges for students, particularly in mastering multiple integrals and effectively visualizing related concepts. The transition to distance learning prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated the learning process in multiple integrals. In line with this and considering the potential of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), in this research we explore the impact of teaching in a CSCL environment on student achievements, focusing on students from the computer science study program. Through data analysis using ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests, it was found that students exposed to collaborative learning in GeoGebra environment demonstrated higher levels of theoretical and practical knowledge compared to peers who acquired knowledge without using GeoGebra. Additionally, this group of students achieved results comparable to those of students who attended traditional in-person teaching, showing noticeable improvements in solving complex tasks. Our findings show the effectiveness of CSCL approach in context of distance learning and highlight potential of collaborative environments enhanced with technology in facilitating student understanding and achievements in calculus education.

Although student covariation reasoning has been explored in depth to improve understanding of the correspondence between variables, research has focused on studying existing reasoning about variables in Cartesian representations. The working method had a qualitative approach, with a descriptive exploratory scope, the spontaneous representations that the participants evidenced under the level of covariational reasoning of the variables present in three contextualized situations were explored, posed to a population of third-grade middle school students. The students argued with concrete and abstract drawings the general behavior of the variables. At low levels of reasoning they used pictorial representations, at higher levels they used graphical diagrams and tables. The exploratory study shows a relationship between the type of spontaneous representations and the student's level of covariational reasoning, as well as the rigor of the description of the problem.

The tradition of studies involving the combinatorial approach to recurring numerical sequences has accumulated a few decades of tradition, and several problems continue to attract the interest of mathematicians in several countries. This work specifically discusses the Fibonacci, Pell, and Jacobsthal sequences, focusing on Mersenne sequences. The often-used definition of board involves considering how to fill a specific regular surface--the board--with a limited quantity of regularly shaped tiles. On the other hand, an analogous problem can be generalized and exemplifies current research developments. Finally, the examples covered constitute unexpected ways of exploring visualization and other skills in mathematics teachers' learning, consequently inspiring them for their teaching context.

The Smile project is an engineering service-learning initiative carried out through collaboration between Chouaib Doukkali University in Morocco and Pusan National University in South Korea. Since 2016, this project has been conducted annually for engineering students from both universities. Participants are selected through an oral interview, ensuring representation from different majors, years, and genders. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project transitioned to an online mode starting from 2020. The objective of this article is to investigate the impact of the service-learning approach on learning and its potential for enhancing engineering education. This study aims to compare the face-to-face and online implementations of the Smile project as examples of this educational approach. The analysis demonstrates a strong positive effect of engineering service-learning as a learning approach, leading to the improvement of engineering students' skills and competencies. Notably, there is minimal difference between the two implementation modes of this learning approach.

Mathematical beliefs and metacognitive knowledge play significant roles in solving mathematical problems; thus, this study aims to investigate the influence of middle school students' beliefs on their metacognitive knowledge when solving geometry problems. This study utilizes both quantitative and qualitative research methods. A linear regression test was used to determine the effect of middle school students' beliefs on their metacognitive knowledge. The results of the quantitative research analysis were followed up with a qualitative research approach to describe the metacognitive knowledge of students who have high and low confidence in solving geometric problems. This research involved 352 middle school students in the Tarakan area. Based on the results of linear regression, it is known that the beliefs of middle school students have a positive effect on their metacognitive knowledge when solving geometric problems. In addition, it was found that students with different beliefs could solve a given geometry problem, but the approach to solving it varied among subjects. Middle school students have diverse beliefs, but these variations do not affect their capacity to apply their metacognitive knowledge at every stage of solving mathematical problems.

This study aims to reveal the profile of open-start problem-solving with ethnomathematics regarding student learning styles. This research is a qualitative research study on 3 out of 31 students of Junior High School of 3 Magetan taken by purposive sampling. The three students carried out four stages: understanding the problem, planning problem-solving strategies, implementing problem-solving strategies, and reviewing again. The results of the research show that students with a visual learning style solve problems by understanding problems through writing known and being asked and drawing illustrations, planning problem-solving strategies by making examples, carrying out solving strategies by working on the calculation process; students with an auditory learning style solve problems by understanding problems through writing known and being asked, planning strategies by making problems and formulating formulas used, implementing solutions by doing calculations and reviewing; students with a kinesthetic learning style solve problems by understanding issues through writing known and being asked, making examples and writing the formulas used, carrying out solving strategies by applying the calculation process and reviewing the results obtained. However, of the three styles, the results of the accepted work were not correct because they did not write down the conclusions and were not thorough enough.

The aim in this study was to determine the effectiveness of STEM-based robotic coding education for primary school students in terms of their decision-making skills. Mixed method research was conducted. Pretest-posttest control group designs were used in the quantitative phase, and a case study was performed in the qualitative phase of the research. The study sample consisted of 65 third graders. Pretesting of the experimental and control group students was performed using the decision-making skills scale. STEM-based robotic coding training was given to the experimental group for 6 weeks. Afterwards, the decision-making skills scale was applied as a posttest to both the experimental and control groups. The quantitative data were analyzed with paired and independent samples t-tests. A statistically significant increase was observed in the experimental group students' decision-making skills in favor of the posttest. There was no significant difference between the pre- and posttest scores of the control group students. An interview with 15 experimental group students was conducted to collect qualitative data, and the interview results were analyzed using content analysis. The robotic coding education positively affected the students' decision-making and problem-solving skills and their willingness to share ideas.

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled higher education institutions to adopt an alternative approach to learning. For mathematics education, supporting students through blended learning has become increasingly important as it will ensure students' learning is sustained in such a situation. This practical change has illuminated how cloud technology can be employed in mathematics education to improve the instruction process. Using a cloud classroom blended learning-instructional framework for integrating educational cloud tools into mathematics teaching, this study analysed students' metacognitive ability in mathematical problem-solving. A pre-experimental research using a one group pre-test-post-test design was conducted. The sample comprised sixty undergraduate mathematics students enrolled on a Numerical Analysis course. Sample selection was carried out using a simple random sampling technique. Data were analysed using a descriptive analysis, parametric tests, and n-gain. The results revealed that, firstly, the majority of students (90%) achieved a post-test score of metacognitive ability in mathematical problem-solving -- this exceeded the 60% threshold. Secondly, students' post-test score of metacognitive ability in mathematical problem-solving (mean score of 82.14, S.D. = 8.29) increased significantly compared to the pre-test score (mean score of 73.54, S.D. = 8.38). Further, the effect size was large. Thirdly, there was an enhancement of metacognitive ability in the mathematical problem-solving of students with a mean n-gain of 0.34, which is in the moderate category. Thus, cloud classroom blended learning significantly improved metacognitive ability in mathematical problem-solving among undergraduate students. Educators can apply the results to assess mathematics learning in order to improve the quality of metacognitive ability in mathematical problem-solving.

Information technology (IT) is transforming the world. Therefore, exposing students to computing at an early age is important. And, although computing is being introduced into schools, students from a low socio-economic status background still do not have such an opportunity. Furthermore, existing computing programs may need to be adjusted in accordance to the specific characteristics of these students in order to help them to achieve the learning goals. Aiming at bringing computing education to all middle and high-school students, we performed a systematic literature review, in order to analyze the content, pedagogy, technology, as well as the main findings of instructional units that teach computing in this context. First results show that these students are able to learn computing, including concepts ranging from algorithms and programming languages to artificial intelligence. Difficulties are mainly linked to the lack of infrastructure and the lack of pre-existing knowledge in using IT as well as creating computing artifacts. Solutions include centralized teaching in assistive centers as well as a stronger emphasis on unplugged strategies. However, there seems to be a lack of more research on teaching computing to students from a low socio-economic status background, unlocking their potential as well to foster their participation in an increasing IT market.

In the study reported on here we used a qualitative case study design to examine the self-control and self-monitoring behaviour of gifted learners in problem-solving processes. We selected 3 gifted secondary learners using the purposeful sampling method. For the study, each learner completed 10 individual problem-solving sessions. A think-aloud protocol as well as observations and interviews were used in each problem-solving session. The gifted learners displayed various and intertwined self-control and self-monitoring behaviour to read, understand, and solve the problems, and to find and verify the answer. They also displayed this behaviour much more frequently in problems that required using visual drawings and/or had long texts. The gifted learners left or adapted self-control behaviour when the behaviour did not work for solving mathematical problems. They made decisions regarding self-control behaviour by means of the self-monitoring process. The participants presented insistent, quick, flexible, and fluent actions for both self-control and self-monitoring processes. Based on our findings, we propose a portrait of gifted learners' self-regulative behaviour in the mathematical problem-solving process.

The use of learner modelling approaches is critical for providing adaptive support in educational computer games, with predictive learner modelling being among the key approaches. While adaptive supports have been shown to improve the effectiveness of educational games, improperly customized support can have negative effects on learning outcomes. To tackle these challenges, we present a novel approach, called DeepLM, that considers a series of time windows representing both sequences of learners' actions during gameplay and estimation of their current competencies (using stealth assessment) to model learners and accordingly predict their future performance. The approach employs a variant of deep neural networks to early predict learners' midterm and final scores simultaneously. The results show that using 20-50% of learners' action sequences can early predict their final scores, with a cross-validated convolutional neural network (CNN) achieving an area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy of 0.879 and 85.3%, respectively. The same model can also achieve high accuracy in predicting midterm and final scores at the same time, with an AUC and accuracy of 0.848 and 77.9%. Overall, the CNN model outperforms recurrent neural network, long short-term memory, and baseline multilayer perceptron (MLP) models in predicting learners' final performance and performs better than the baseline MLP model in predicting learners' midterm and final performance using both cross-validation and independent datasets. These findings show the potential of the proposed approach in accurately early predicting learners' performance, allowing educators and game designers to tailor interventions and support mechanisms that could lead to optimized learning outcomes.

Reasoning for complexity is a fundamental competency in these complex times for solutions to social problems and decision-making. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the eComplexity instrument by presenting its psychometric properties. The instrument consists of a Likert-type scale questionnaire designed to measure college students' perceptions of their mastery levels of complex reasoning competency as well as the subcompetencies that comprise it. The instrument was applied to higher education students in different countries of Latin America and Spain. The questionnaire articulates four types of thinking: systemic, scientific, critical and innovative and consists of 25 items. The methodology used was instrumental and psychometric, which seeks to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the eComplexity questionnaire. The results obtained from the research were as follows: The exploratory factor analysis indicated a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index (KMO) > 0.80, a significance of p< 0.05 and a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.93. Likewise, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis was carried out and was possible to corroborate the internal structure validity of the instrument. In addition to Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, McDonald's Omega, and Guttman's Lambda coefficients were calculated to calculate reliability. With the results obtained it was possible to conclude that the instrument is valid and reliable, can be used in various university contexts to support integrated training necessary to address current challenges and contribute to educational research. It is recommended for future studies that the research can be expanded by using an instrument that can move from perceptual terms to measuring levels of complex reasoning mastery, but it is valuable to contrast with the students' perception to have a broader vision.

The flipped classroom (FC) and case-based learning (CBL) are recognized as effective instructional models that emphasize the development of problem-solving ability. However, the implementation of FC combined with CBL has not been well explored. This study aims to investigate the effect of FC combined with CBL on students' problem solving by comparing it with the FC model and the traditional method. Three groups in a private university in Indonesia participated in an experimental study involving 94 students. Across 8 weeks, one experimental group received the FC model and a second experimental group received FC combined with the CBL model. The control group received regular learning activities. A measure of problem-solving ability was administered to all groups before and after the 8-week intervention. In the FC combined with CBL model, problem-solving ability increased significantly compared to students in the control group. The findings need to be replicated with an extended, after-class session that involves larger groups of participants over a longer time period.

Generic competency development activities (GCDAs) help students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, innovation, creativity, communication and social skills. This study evaluated students' acceptance of a machine learning-assisted recommendation system (MARS) developed to recommend GCDAs for students in a higher education institution. This study adopted a quantitative approach to evaluate the higher education students' perceived usefulness of MARS based on a new appropriate model derived from three widely used models related to technology adoption and leisure activities. In August 2023, the participants of orientation for freshmen were invited to complete an online questionnaire after they tried MARS. 351 valid responses were analyzed using multiple regression. The results revealed that the students positively perceive accepting MARS as a useful tool for choosing GCDAs and indicated the students' perceptions were affected more by their programs of study, career development and personal interests than by social influence and facilitating conditions on their selection of GCDAs. These findings based on the new model provide implications for the implementation of education technology for generic competency development.

The study examines the application of the collaborative learning model to improve 21st-century civic skills. The 21st century presents a number of unique challenges in the world of education. Rapid changes in technology, economics, and politics have placed new demands on individual learning and development. One of the key aspects of preparing students for these challenges is the development of strong civic skills. These skills include not only an understanding of the duties and rights of citizens but also the ability to collaborate with diverse individuals and groups in order to create positive change in society. The application of the Collaborative Learning Model has emerged as a highly relevant approach to developing civic skills in the modern era. This model emphasizes cooperation, active engagement, and knowledge sharing between students, which encourages them to collaborate in solving social problems, understanding cultural differences, and designing innovative solutions. In this study, the research method he research method in this study was a pseudo-experiment with a non-equivalent control group design. The data analysis technique used is the independent sample t-test with a significance level of 5%. Results showed that the model applied significantly influenced students' 21st-century citizenship skills, and collaborative learning models effectively improved these skills. This study concludes that the Collaborative Learning Model can be used to improve students' 21st-century civic skills.

The success of a school centers on teachers' ability to create well-aligned educational tools. The Merdeka Belajar curriculum requires adapting assessments, including Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions for real-world problem-solving scenarios. This study explored contexts proposed by teachers in Papua for developing Mathematics HOTS questions. A phenomenological approach within a qualitative framework was employed involving 24 mathematics teachers from public and private schools in focus group discussions. Participants included twenty teachers from Papua, two from Central Indonesia and two from Western Indonesia. Additionally, five teachers from Papua participated in in-depth interviews. Data was analyzed using Creswell's model with Atlas.ti software. Teachers developed HOTS assessment instruments based on daily life, scientific and social contexts. However, no cultural contexts were incorporated into these instruments by the interviewed teachers. This study highlights the importance of teacher preparedness in aligning contextual learning with the Merdeka Belajar curriculum and reveals a significant gap in using cultural contexts for HOTS assessments among teachers in Papua. These insights contribute to the discourse on math education in Indonesia advocating for the integration of cultural elements into the freedom to learn initiative.

The purpose of this article is to examine the effects of STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education practices carried out at the primary school level in Turkey on various learning outcomes. The systematic review method was employed to accomplish this purpose. This study examined whether 30 comparisons from publications found through database searches and meeting the inclusion criteria revealed a significant difference. The analyses conducted led to a finding that STEM education used in primary schools had favorable and statistically significant effects on attitude towards STEM (f=6), academic achievement in a science course (f=5), 21st-century skills (f=2), interest in careers in STEM fields (f=2), scientific creativity (f=2), basic skills (f=2), entrepreneurial skills (f=1), social skill (f=1), reflections on the nature of science (f=1), STEM perception (f=1), and Scratch achievement (f=1). On the other hand, the study's findings showed that these practices did not produce a statistically significant difference in academic achievement in mathematics courses (f=1) and reflective thinking skills toward problem-solving (f=1). Additionally, the study's findings showed that 2 practices created a statistically significant difference in the positive direction on problem solving skills, and 2 practices did not create a statistically significant difference.

Background: Problem-solving as a vehicle to develop independent thinking skills is mostly underestimated and is often either overlooked or not given adequate attention within the existing South African mathematics curriculum. Consequently, numerous learners often display limited skills or lack skills to adequately crack Mathematics problems by applying methods put forward in class. This generally results in under-achievement. Aim: This study aims to explore and emphasise the problem-solving methods applied by Grade 4 learners involved in solving measurement word problems, and to reveal what transpires when the selected learners apply these methods to arrive at meaningful solutions. Setting: Data were collected from a class of 42 Grade 4 learners at a primary school in Cape Town South Africa. Learners were conveniently selected. Methods: A qualitative case study research design was adopted. Data gathering instruments of the study included observing learners solving, measurement word problem activities and focus group interviews. Results: The study revealed that singular methods were applied by Grade 4 learners, such as, adding, multiplying, creating a sketch or diagram, grouping, dividing, subtracting, logical reasoning, guessing and tabulating values. Conclusion: Grade 4 learners are prone to applying methods such as clustering or organising into groups, tabulating numerical values and logical reasoning were all applying mathematically sound methods. Such learners, however, needed a degree of supervision and instruction to indicate the way in which such methods were applied successfully as these methods were not necessarily dealt with in classroom context or in textbooks. Contribution: The findings emphasise the need for tackling learners' limited problem-solving competencies and accentuate the necessity for greater attention to develop and grow methods for optimal and successful solving of problems in context.

In this article, we explored Grade 11 learners' algebraic and geometric connections when solving Euclidean geometry riders. A qualitative interpretive case study design was followed. Thirty Grade 11 learners from a non-fee-paying secondary school in the Capricorn North district of South Africa were conveniently sampled to participate in this study. Data were collected through learners' responses to classwork, homework exercises, and task-based interviews. Data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that to solve Euclidean geometry riders successfully, learners need to establish the feature connections embedded in the given figure or diagram. The ability to make feature connections provides a point of departure in the solution process of a geometric problem. Contribution: Once the feature connection is established, other connections will subsequently emerge. In addition, the reversibility connections become a form of feature connection when solving Euclidean geometry riders. Therefore, we recommend that mathematics teachers emphasise and use mathematical connections in their daily teaching of mathematics.

Mathematics achievement is core to South Africa's readiness for digital innovation, yet current pass rates in this subject are below the global average. Simply attributing mathematics performance to intelligence does not fully account for the multifaceted reality of achievement in the subject. The current study investigated the value of both cognitive and behavioural factors in predicting mathematics performance, as well as explored the interactions between these factors. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed. Grade 9 learners (N = 187) completed the Ravens' Standard Progressive Matrices and the Study Orientation towards Mathematics assessments to establish their fluid intelligence, study attitude, mathematics anxiety, study habits, problem-solving behaviours and study milieu. Pearson correlation coefficients established the relationships between fluid intelligence, study orientations towards mathematics, and mathematics marks. These factors were also included in a linear regression and dominance analysis to compare their relative weights in influencing mathematics performance. Study attitude and fluid intelligence were found to be the most dominant, significant factors in the model, which explained 39% of the total variance (R[superscript 2] = 0.390, F(6, 180), = 19.2, p <0.001). Moderator regressions between fluid intelligence and each of the study orientations further found that fluid intelligence and study orientations, with the exception of study milieu, independently influence mathematics performance.

The teaching and learning of mathematics in sub-Saharan African countries is dominated by teacher-centred pedagogies rather than student-centred ones. Observations of mathematics teachers at two private schools in South Sudan confirmed such practices. This inspired the researchers to design an intervention to help six primary mathematics teachers shift their practices through problem-solving and mathematical discourse. Design-based research methods were implemented, and data were gathered using observations supported by video and audio recordings and field notes. The participants were selected using convenience sampling, and the data were analysed using Stephan's checklist of student-centred teaching as a framework. The findings revealed that initially, teachers were using tasks from textbooks, and the teachers themselves were engaged in solving the tasks while their students reproduced their actions. Additionally, all the teachers dominated classroom discussions. After the intervention, the teachers began to select tasks that could enhance learning through problem-solving and mathematical discourse among the students, shifting the teacher's role to facilitation as the students engaged in solving the tasks on their own. However, the shift in practice was highly dependent on the intervention, as the teachers' tasks were adopted from the workshop.

This research examines the application of students' computational thinking (CT) in solving numerical method problems through computer software. Data collection involved observing their learning process and conducting tests to evaluate their CT skills within the context of the root approach material using Newton-Raphson method. The results indicate that the use of Microsoft Excel facilitates problem-solving for students and educators when employing Newton-Raphson method. Furthermore, it helps identify aspects or indicators of CT in students' problem-solving processes. The research findings demonstrate that students with strong mathematical abilities should document their conclusions in the algorithmic aspect. Students with moderate mathematical abilities exhibit all indicators in every aspect of CT when solving problems using Newton-Raphson method. On the other hand, students with weak mathematical skills fail to articulate questions, formulas, or conclusions in the algorithm design aspect, but they do show all indicators in the pattern recognition and abstraction aspects.

The purpose of the case study was to understand the use of technology, particularly AI, for public middle school teachers in Michigan for critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. The theory that guided this study was the constructivist theory. The constructivist learning theory involves people learning from their experiences and prior background knowledge. Consistent with the case study, the focus was on using AI in the classroom to engage learners and create criical thinkers and problem solvers for 21st-century skills. This qualitative study primarily sought to investigate educators' views regarding students' critical thinking abilities and assess how educators use artificial intelligence in the classroom to facilitate student opportunities to participate in problem-solving activities. The qualitative case collected data from middle school educators and gained insight into experiences with technology, particularly AI, in the classroom. Data collection consisted of observations and interviews. The analysis used triangulation to determine themes and reveal if AI correlates in the classroom with instruction to create critical thinking skills and authentic experiences. The results from the study included a minimal amount of AI in the middle school setting, participants not being comfortable with how to implement AI in the educational setting, and students not progressing adequately in critical thinking.

The aim of this study is to determine the number sense skills of preschool (Kindergarten) children. In the study, survey design, one of the quantitative research methods, was used. The study group consists of a total of 114 children attending all the kindergartens (5 kindergartens) in the city center of Tunceli in the 2020-2021 school year. The data collection tool used in the study is the "Preschool Number Sense Test" developed by the researchers. In the analysis of the data, the correct answers obtained by using number sense skills, the correct answers obtained by using rule and operation-based methods, the false answers obtained by using number sense skills, the false answers obtained by using rule-operation-based methods and the questions left unanswered were considered. As a result of the analysis made, it was determined that preschool students used rule- and operation-based methods more in problem-solving when dealing with questions, and it was seen that they used number-sense-based methods less frequently.

The creative programming language Processing can be used as a generative architectural design tool, which allows the designer to write design instructions (algorithms) and compute them, obtaining graphical outputs of great interest. This contribution addresses the inclusion of this language in the architecture curriculum, within the context of digital culture and alternative approaches to how digital tools are used and learned. It studies the different processes related to Computational Thinking that are triggered in the prototyping of computer applications and that lead to creativity. The similarity between architectural design and programming is analysed, both in problem solving (abstraction, decomposition, iterative revisions--debugging--, etc.) and in the use of mechanisms of a digital nature (loops, randomness, etc.). The results of the design and testing of a pilot course are shown, in which the way of teaching, learning and using this programming language is based on the graphical representation of problems through sketches.

In order to effectively learn physics, students need to be actively involved in problem solving. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between students' metacognitive awareness and their problem solving strategies in physics. Conceptual framework was based on Polya's problem solving strategies and Shraw and Dennison's metacognitive awareness theory. Correlational design including both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was carried out for this research. The participants of the research consisted of 30 high school students. Data were collected by using Metacognitive Awareness Inventory and Physics Problem Solving Assessment. The first conclusion drawn from this research is that high school students have high metacognitive awareness. Second, students are not very good at in physics problem solving strategies. Third, metacognitive awareness can have impact on problem solving strategies in physics. Fourth, looking back-reflection stage is the problem solving strategy that is affected by the dimensions of metacognitive awareness most. Finally, procedural knowledge and monitoring dimensions of metacognitive awareness have critical roles in physics problem solving strategies. Reflection of metacognitive awareness to problem solving strategies and especially using procedural knowledge and monitoring during problem solving are important strategies that need to be emphasized and encouraged in teaching and learning science.

Teachers are often perplexed realizing students ending up with different understandings of the same lesson after attending the same class. This study investigates the use of Variation Theory as a pedagogical design tool in improving students' problem-solving skills in trigonometry. This action research utilizing the 'Learning Study' approach was conducted in a Filipino-Chinese private school in a highly urbanized city in the Philippines. Two Grade 10 intact classes consisting of a total of 41 students and three mathematics teachers participated in the learning study. Selected students were interviewed to validate students' intended and lived objects of learning. The video-recorded lessons were examined to determine the alignment of the intended and enacted objects of learning. The analysis of the pretest and posttest showed the use of different patterns of variation and invariance in teaching was able to address students' misconceptions and difficulties in solving right triangles and helped the students understand problems better. Thus, the Variation Theory of learning as a pedagogical design tool is deemed effective in improving the students' knowledge, procedural, and problem-solving skills, and in bridging the gap between the intended objects of learning and the lived objects of learning.