Using Fermi problems to motivate 4th grade primary school students in math lessons

• Published in: Eğitim Kuram ve Uygulama Araştırmaları Dergisi (EKUAD) Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 268 - 267
• Main Authors: Abay,Sinem, Büyükalan Filiz,Sevil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sabri Sidekli 01-03-2020
• Subjects: Bilgisayar Bilimleri; Biyoloji; Eğitim Bilimleri; Felsefe & Psikoloji & Sosyoloji; Fizik; Kimya; Tarih; Muğla; Türkiye; Problem solving; Mathematical motivation; Fermi problems
• ISSN: 2149-7702; 2587-0718
• DOI: 10.38089/ekuad.2020.26

The concept of motivation is described as a broad structure that includes all the
internal and external conditions that affect how behavior is prompted, maintained
and controlled. Math motivation is described as love of mathematics, an interest
in it, and a high level of motivation with respect to this lesson, a wish to take part
in math lessons and an interest in math both in and out of school. Mathematical
problems can be varied as problems with different ways of solving them to
routine problems with only one correct answer and open-ended, non-routine
problems that every individual can interpret differently and whose outcomes vary
from person to person. There is no single correct answer to open-ended
problems, and these kinds of problems, which are also called non-routine
problems, are important parts of the mathematics teaching program.
Furthermore, non-routine problems are forms of problem that require students to
use their imagination and that encourage them to think creatively and critically.
For this reason, it can be said that these types of problems are educational in that
they teach the students how to overcome the problems that they will encounter
throughout their lives. Fermi problems can be regarded as examples of openended problems. Fermi problems are open-ended, non-routine problems that
require students to make systematic guesses by making assumptions before
starting on a solution using simple calculations. They are the kinds of problems
that can be solved in different ways, that have no single correct answer and that
students can only solve by making assumptions. The goal of this study is to
influence 4th-grade primary school students' math motivation by using Fermi
problems. To this end, a total of 40 4th grade students in a state-run school in the
central district of Tokat Province were divided into one test and one control
group, and their math motivation levels were measured. Afterwards, a four-week
implementation was carried out using the test group during which the students
were made to solve Fermi problems. The math motivation levels for both groups
were tested again after this implementation was over. The first and last tests were
compared in the light of the data obtained. According to the research results,
while no change was observed in the math motivation levels of the control group,
which was taught mathematics using traditional methods, a development was
seen in the math motivation levels of the test group. Therefore, it is suggested
that Fermi problems may be used to increase interest and motivation in math
classes