By: Indah Septia D.N
There are many mathematicians that develop or discover theoretical of mathematics education. Many of the mathematicians that developed new method to teach mathematics and the way teacher explain the concept of mathematics. One theorem is connecting to other theorem. One notion is connected to other notions then makes a theorem.
Problem solving activity is one of the theoretical notions of mathematics education. Problem solving activity in mathematics became recognized since constructivism proposed and became popular in education field. Humans have been solving problems from the beginning of their existence, usually by trial and error. However, effective and reliable problem origination, prevention, solution, and challenge of solution did not begin until our scientists recognized and developed the experimental method, the method of science, most commonly called the scientific method or scientific method.
One of the mathematicians that promote problem solving in mathematics is George Pόlya. He spent considerable effort on trying to characterize the methods that people use to solve problems, and to describe how problem-solving should be taught and learned. He wrote four books on the subject: How to Solve It, Mathematical Discovery: On Understanding, Learning, and Teaching Problem Solving; Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning Volume I: Induction and Analogy in Mathematics, and Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning Volume II: Patterns of Plausible Reasoning.
In addition to his works directly addressing problem solving, Pólya wrote another short book called Mathematical Methods in Science, based on a 1963 work supported by the National Science Foundation, edited by Leon Bowden, and published by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) in 1977. It shows that problem solving activity has been beginning for many years ago.
From several years ago, problem solving had begin applied in school. The method of teaching that has transformed from teacher center to students center create many innovation on teaching. Besides problem solving activity, there are other method of teaching, like discussion, investigate, etc.
The ultimate goal of any problem-solving program is to improve students' performance at solving problems correctly. The specific goals of problem-solving in Mathematics are to:
1. Improve pupils' willingness to try problems and improve their perseverance when solving problems.
2. Improve pupils' self-concepts with respect to the abilities to solve problems.
3. Make pupils aware of the problem-solving strategies.
4. Make pupils aware of the value of approaching problems in a systematic manner.
5. Make pupils aware that many problems can be solved in more than one way.
6. Improve pupils' abilities to select appropriate solution strategies.
7. Improve pupils' abilities to implement solution strategies accurately.
8. Improve pupils' abilities to get more correct answers to problems.
Problem solving activity is one of the methods of teaching that make student more active than before. Students will find the answer of the problem by themselves. There are some phases to solve the problem, which are: understand the problem, make planning with the previous experience to solve it, try the plan and if it didn’t work then look back what’s wrong with it and try again. If students do all the phases, students will more active and understand the concept by themselves.
In Indonesia, teachers now begin applied this method to teach students. Not only using problem solving method, but also using other method then combined it so that can be suitable with condition of class. Sometimes, one method that always be applied will make students bored and not enjoy with the lesson. Teachers have to more creative to make the atmosphere of study become pleased.
Most teacher in Indonesia using traditional method to teach students before applied problem solving activity. In traditional method, teachers just transfer their knowledge to students. Consequently, students become passive and wait for explanation from their teachers. Students will assume that their teachers are sources of knowledge.
Constructivism paradigm had changed the perspective of teachers about the way they teach their students. The orientation has change. Not teacher oriented but students oriented. Problem solving activity just one of the method that can be used to applied this paradigm.
In problem solving activity, teacher should give support or encouragement to students, give students questions and let them to answer it, make a simple example and involve students to make it, and soon. Students should support this activity too, so that this activity can run well.
Sources:
http://library.thinkquest.org/25459/learning/problem/ access on March, 3th 2012, 04:44 p.m
http://www.problemsolving.net/history.html access on March, 3th 2012 08:47 a.m
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polya access on March, 3th 2012, 06:50 p.m
http://pbmmatmarsigit.blogspot.com/2008/12/problem-solving-matematika-hakekat-dan.html access on March, 3th 2012, 09:17 p.m
