The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of the mathematic-center activity based upon inquiry on the children's mathematical problem-solving ability and attitude.
Participating in the study were 52 five-year-old children in kindergarten cla...
The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of the mathematic-center activity based upon inquiry on the children's mathematical problem-solving ability and attitude.
Participating in the study were 52 five-year-old children in kindergarten classrooms. Experimental treatment was performed during free-play time from March 19, 2007 to May 11, 2007. The children in the experimental group engaged in a variety of mathematical explorations and inquiry involving problem solving, reasoning, and communication. The children in the comparative group used materials individually or sometimes two children played with dice following a procedure that had been explained to them.
The research questions and hypotheses were as follows:
<Research question 1 >
Is there any difference in the children's mathematical problem-solving ability between the experimental group and the comparative group?
Hypothesis 1-1: The experimental group's score will be higher than the comparison group's on classification.
Hypothesis 1-2: The experimental group's score will be higher than the comparison group's on pattern.
Hypothesis 1-3: The experimental group's score will be higher than the comparison group's on number.
Hypothesis 1-4: The experimental group's score will be higher than the comparison group's on measurement.
Hypothesis 1-5: The experimental group's score will be higher than the comparison group on shape.
Hypothesis 1-6: The experimental group's score will be higher than the comparison group on statistics.
<Research question 2 >
Is there any difference in the children's attitude toward mathematics between the experimental group and the comparative group?
Hypothesis 2-1: The experimental group's score will be higher than the comparison group's on the children's attitude toward mathematics.
Hypothesis 2-2: The children in the experimental group will express themselves more positively than the children in the comparative group in their pictures of mathematics.
The procedure of the experiment consisted of a preexperimental test, a set of experimental treatment, and a posttest. The tool to measure the children's problem-solving ability was produced by Ward(1993), was translated by Hwang, Jeong-sook(1996), and was modified by Kim, Chang-bok(1998).
The tool based on Pictorical Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children, to measure the children's attitude toward mathematics was produced by Ward(1993), was translated by Hwang, Jeong-sook(1996), and was modified by Kim, Chang-bok(1998). The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 12.0 computer program and t test was used to verify the differences between the experimental group and the comparative group.
The results of this study were as follows:
1. The experimental group's scores for mathematical problem-solving ability were higher than the comparative group's. There were significant differences between the experimental group and the comparative group in classification, pattern, number, and measurement, but no significant differences in shape and statistics.
2. The children in the experimental group improved their attitude toward mathematics. Their pictures demonstrated that they developed a more positive attitude to mathematics than the children in the comparative group.