Improving Grade 10 Students' Problem Solving Skills through Powpow (Problem of the Week Posted on the Wall)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

From both research and experience, problem-solving poses many difficulties to both students and even adults. It is deemed to be a skill that is not widely practiced and nurtured within classrooms. This intervention approach called POWPOW, with both time and practice, resulted in an improvement in problem-solving skills of the students.

METHODS

In the process of coming up with the most appropriate samples, the researcher used the sections of Grade 10 students of PSCNHS as the basis of clusters (Cluster Method). The would-be-required number of controlled and uncontrolled samples was based on the two clusters having the lowest MPS for the second quarterly test. The primary source of data, the controlled variable (POWPOW students) and the uncontrolled (non-POWPOW students) took pre-test and post-test as the basis of the study.

RESULTS

There is an improvement in the MPS result of a quarterly test of the selected Grade 10 students as compared to the results of the previous quarter. Furthermore, using a t-test, there is a significant difference in the mean scores of the POWPOW students and non-POWPOW students which means that there is an improvement in the problem-solving skills of the students. With the use of reliable and validated pre-test and post-test, POWPOW resulted in a significant difference in the mean scores of the POWPOW students.

DISCUSSIONS

The result showed that POWPOW should be cultured in a way that the students will be exposed to problem-solving as the problem is posed in a visible place that all students can see. The result also showed the need for this intervention to continue with full force and collaboration of Mathematics Teachers for the successful implementation.