The development of computational thinking and mathematics problem solving skills through mathematics modelling activities

Abstract

The latest TIMSS report highlighted that secondary school students from Malaysia did not perform well in this global assessment on mathematics achievement. Some studies have pointed out that students’ mathematics achievement can be improved by equipping them with computational thinking. Therefore, this study examined the development of computational thinking skill and mathematics problem-solving skills via mathematics modelling activities among secondary students in Malaysia. The research instrument used for the assessment of computational thinking was adapted from UK Berbras Challenges and CAS Barefoot Team from United Kingdom. In addition, rubrics for development of mathematics problem solving skill was adapted from Polya problem solving model. This study adopted qualitative approach and the modelling activities were conducted for six weeks. The activities were introduction of modelling, individual modelling task and group modelling task. Data were also collected based on results of computational thinking test and mathematics test. Data from observation and interviews were analyzed, and the scores obtained from both tests were compared and analyzed as well. Based on the findings of the study, it could be concluded that the students progressed at different levels during the development of their computational thinking skill and mathematics problem-solving competency via mathematics modelling activities. These results indicated that mathematics modelling activities can be conducted at schools to improve students’ performance in Mathematics.