The influence of 'problem-based learning' method in the success of the ninth grade math learners and their attitude towards math

Training in the Industrial Vocational High schools as a part of Vocational and Technical Education varies among different departments like computer Technology, Electrics and Electronics, Machine Design, Wooden Technology, Metal and Technics and lastly Automotive. Since analytical approach is essential for industrial education, mathematics is of vital importance. However, mathematics is considered as a difficult lesson by the students of industrial vocational high school and it has an effect on the attitudes of these learners towards Math as well as on to their success in this lesson. For this manner, the present study adopted a different method (Problem-based learning) expecting to change the attitude and perception of the learners who have been educated in traditional methods. In problem-based learning, learning objectives are given by the means of scenarios which have been fictionalised about a problem and adapted to the real-life situations. Learners are expected to solve the problems in the scenarios by using thier own experiences and by making researches about the subject. It is assumed that the learners of industrial vocational high school who have applied training of field topics (should) be responsible for their learning and it (should) increase both their success in Math and their attitude toward Math.

The design of the research is experimental, 2x3 split-plot. The study was conducted during the 2007-2008 academic year, second semester, at a mid socioeconomic level school in the province of Ankara. 54 of the high school learners participated the study. In the research, the learners were equally distributed to the control and experimental groups. While Problem-based learning approach was employed in the expermental group, traditional approach was employed in the control group. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. The Achievement Tests about Natural and Whole Number in Math and The Mathoriented Attitude Scale were used to collect the quantitative data. The Learner Views Detection Form and Self-Evaluation Form were used to collect qualitative data. The data collected were analyzed via two-factor ANOVA, content analysis, Percent Frequency and T-Test techniques.

Based on the data gathered in this study it can be said that the problembased learning approach has contributed to the improvement of the learners’ success and attitude towards the concept of mathematics. The qualitative data analysis has revealed that learners in the experiment group have had a positive attitude towards problem-based approach and that their self-evaluation results have been increasing in terms of percentage steadily.