Determining Students' Problem Solving Processes via Hint Supported Problem Solving Instrument

Abstract

To teach problem solving to students and develop their problem solving skills, the process they pass through problem solving should be known well. Identifying the steps that students had difficulty in this process will provide data about how to assist them. in this study, it is aimed to investigate students' problem solving process related to "Force and Motion" unit scope of hints they need. For that purpose, hint supported problem solving instrument (HSPSI) that consists of 19 problems and enables students to reach the hints they need in problem solving process has been developed. Participants of this study consist of 12 students who receive education at 10th grade in province of Trabzon. Students solved 19 problems using HSPSI in five course hours, in one course hour per week. Data was collected from system records provided by HSPSI, semi-structured interviews conducted with students, and field notes. Conclusions were reached as students have difficulty most at steps of understanding problem and making solution plan, hints that they need during problem solving differ according to students and problems, hints students need during problem solving do not decrease regularly and students can be helped to a certain degree for solving problems. Suggestions were made for teachers to provide students with using problem solving strategies by organizing themselves, for researchers to study about the condition of using HSPSI and similar software by students of different levels.