Altering Students’ Mindsets and Enhancing Engagement in Mathematics in a Problem-Based Learning

Adeneye Olarewaju A. Awofala, Sabainah O. Akinoso

Abstract


Teaching strategy is a foremost dynamic that influences not only students’ mathematics mindset but also their engagement in learning mathematics. This study explored the effect of problem-based learning (PBL) in not only altering senior secondary school students’ mathematics mindset but also improving their engagement in mathematics. The results of the study showed that students exposed to the PBL have meaningfully higher mathematics mindsets tilting towards a growth mindset than those taught through the TLM. In addition, students taught using the PBL recorded significantly higher mathematics engagement than those taught using the TLM. The researchers concluded that PBL is an effective strategy not only for altering students’ mindset towards the growth zone but also for enhancing their engagement in learning mathematics; henceforth, mathematics teachers should integrate PBL into the repertoire of learner-centered strategies for teaching mathematics.

Keywords


Engagement; Mathematics; Mindset; Problem-based learning strategy; Senior secondary school; Traditional lecture method

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/ajsee.v4i2.67956

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