ENHANCING STUDENTS’ PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS THROUGH CONTEXT-BASED LEARNING

Abstract

Problem solving is often challenging for students because they do not understand the problem-solving process (PSP). This study presents a three-stage, context-based, problem-solving, learning activity that involves watching detective films, constructing a context-simulation activity, and introducing a project design to enable students to construct a complete PSP. This study was conducted among 103 eighth-grade students over a period of 14 weeks. The descriptive statistics and structural equation model were used to analyze the students’ PSP performance. Results indicate that context simulation is beneficial for cultivating students’ abilities to establish and analyze questions and then select and develop solutions. In addition, the project design cultivated the students’ ability to evaluate results and apply feedback. Findings from this study demonstrate that context-based learning may effectively enable students to establish a complete PSP.