Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills of 8th-Grade Students in Learning the First-Degree Equations in One Unknown

Abstract

Mathematics education aims to help students understand and solve problems in their daily lives. Facilitating mathematical problem-solving for most students is a major challenge for teachers and students. The research was carried out to support students in developing their ability to resolve problems by learning the first-degree equations in one unknown. This experimental study was conducted on a random sample of 82 eighth-grade students at An Thoi junior high school in Can Tho City, Vietnam. This sample of 82 students was divided equally in experimental group and control group with 41 participants each. The tools used were real-world problems associated with the first-degree equations in one unknown. During the experiment, data were collected through study sheets, pre-test and post-test, and student interviews. Quantitative and qualitative analysis methods were applied to evaluate the results obtained and verify research hypotheses. Research results showed that most experimental group students showed improvement in the manifestation of problem-solving ability. Furthermore, it was observed that the problem-solving activities positively impacted students' positivity, initiative, creativity, and confidence in learning. It is recommended to provide more opportunities to students for practicing problems of the first-degree equations in one unknown, showing them how to discover, pose and solve problems encountered in learning in the lives of individuals, families and communities.