Middle School Students’ Modeling Experiences: A Paper Plane Contest Problem

Year 2016, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 34 - 44, 26.11.2016

Neslihan Şahin , Ali Eraslan

Abstract

Given the goals of mathematics education, it has become critical for
students to understand and explain mathematical concepts and concept systems,
test hypotheses, analyze and explain relationships as well as learn how to
reconstruct. Today, it is not enough to only memorize the mathematical
processes and then apply it to similar problem situations. To prepare students
for their future beyond the school, it is required that students are able to
gain experience on complex problem situations that help them to develop
mathematical thinking and constructing new mathematical concepts. Mathematical
model and modeling approach can be used for the solution of complex problems
that represent real-life situations in which students have actively
participated. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine 7th
grade students’ modeling processes while working on the Paper Plane Contest
Problem and identified difficulties they confronted in the process. This
qualitative research was conducted during the 2015-2016 academic year, in a
middle school in a large city along the Black Sea Region of Turkey.
Participants were 7th grade students in a state school. Three
students among them were selected as a focus group using criterion sampling
technique. They then were given the Paper Plane Contest Problem and asked to
work on this problem. They were video-taped while they were working on the
problem. Mathematical thoughts and written responses of the 7th grade
students were analyzed using descriptive analysis method. The results showed
that students (a) had difficulties to understand the problem, (b) developed
different strategies for required situations, and (c) selected winner for Best
Overall while taking into account of each measurement. In addition, although
students faced difficulties to make mathematical operations, they were able to
work together in group to overcome this problem.

Keywords

Paper plane contest problem, Middle school students, Mathematical modeling, Model eliciting activity

Ortaokul Öğrencilerin Modelleme Deneyimleri: Kağıttan Uçak Yapma Yarışması Problemi

Abstract

Bu araştırma Karadeniz
bölgesinde yer alan büyük bir ilin merkezinde bulunan bir devlet okulunun
ortaokul 7. sınıf öğrencileri ile gerçekleştirilmiş nitel bir çalışmadır.
Araştırmacılar modelleme deneyimi olmayan 7. sınıf öğrencilerinin matematik
derslerine katılarak sınıf içi gözlemlerde ve öğrencilerle etkileşimde
bulunmuşlardır. Çalışmada yer alacak üç öğrenci amaçlı örnekleme yöntemlerinden
birisi olan ölçüt örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak belirlenmişlerdir. Belirlenen
araştırma grubundan model oluşturma etkinliği olan Kağıttan Uçak Yapma
Yarışması Problemi üzerinde çalışmaları istenmiş ve tüm süreç video ile kayıt
altına alınmıştır. Veriler transkript edilerek, öğrencilerin problemi çözerken
kullandıkları yazılı cevaplar ile düşünce süreçleri nitel araştırma teknikleri
kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma sonuçları verilen etkinlik üzerinde
öğlencilerin problemi anlamakta zorluk yaşadıklarını gösterirken, problemde
öğrencilerden istenilen durumlar için ayrı ayı stratejiler geliştirdiklerini ve
genel bir galibi belirlemek için her bir değişkeni birlikte ele alabilecekleri
yeni bir değişken oluşturarak soruya çözüm getirdiklerini ortaya koymuştur.
Ayrıca öğrenciler değişkenler için geliştirilen stratejiler üzerinde
matematiksel işlem yapmada güçlüklerle karşılaşmalarına rağmen, grup içi
tartışmalar sonucu bu güçlüklerin üstesinden gelmeye çalıştıkları
gözlemlenmiştir.

Keywords

Kağıttan Uçak Yapma Problemi, Ortaokul Öğrencileri, Matematiksel Modelleme, Model Oluşturma

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