Journal of Science Education in Japan
Online ISSN : 2188-5338
Print ISSN : 0386-4553
ISSN-L : 0386-4553
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDENTS’ SOLUTIONS OF TWO-STEP PROBLEMS
Katsuhiko SHIMIZU
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1994 Volume 18 Issue 3 Pages 142-150

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Abstract

The process of solving story problem is more complex than it appears. The purpose of this study is to identify the prominent characteristics of students’ solution of two step story problems. Interview data from sixth garders that had been collected in United States (Sowder, 1986) was analyzed and following three prominent characteristics were identified: I. A student’s mental picture is an important key for success, II. Reasonablenes of answer is helpful to the problem solver, and III, Students unfortunately work only on operatoion and the numbers in the problem with few reference to a conceptual image of the problem. Linking syntax and semantics, matching meanings between that of operations and that of problem are suggested for teaching story problems. It is also suggested that solving two-step problem gives a good opportunity to foster students to solve story problems conceptually rather than procedually.

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© 1994 Japan Society for Science Education
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