The study on the Integrated Thinking Ability in Problem Based Learning Program Using Historical Materials in Mathematics

Abstract

Mathematics problem based learning(PBL), which has recently attracted much attention, is a teaching and learning method to increase mathematical ability and help learning mathematical concepts and principles through problem solving using students' mathematical prerequisite knowledge. In spite of such a quite attention, it is not easy to apply and practice PBL actually in school mathematics. Furthermore, the recent instructional situations or environments has focused on student's self construction of their learning and its process. Because of this reason, to whom is related to mathematics education including math teachers, investigation and recognition on the degree of students' acquisition of mathematical thinking skills and strategies(for example, inductive and deductive thinking, critical thinking, creative thinking) is an very important work. Thus, developing mathematical thinking skills is one of the most important goals of school mathematics. In particular, recently, connection or integration of one subject and the other subject in school is emphasized, and then mathematics might be one of the most important subjects to have a significant role to connect or integrate with other subjects.While considering the reason is that the ultimate goal of mathematics education is to pursue an enhancement of mathematical thinking ability through the enhancement of problem solving ability, this study aimed to implement basically what is the meaning of the integrated thinking ability in problem based learning theory in Mathematics. In addition, using historical materials, this study was to develop mathematical materials and a sample of a concrete instructional guideline for enhancing integrated thinking ability in problem based learning program.