Let’s Solve This Question In a swimming camp, the number of male participants was 5 times the number of female participants. After 144 of male participants left the camp, the number of female participants was two times the number of male. What was the total number of participants at the beginning of the camp?

Ministry of Education Singapore, 2012 What is Thinking Block? An innovation in teaching and learning of mathematics developed by Primary School Mathematics Project Team in 1980 led by Dr. Kho Teck Hong Addressing the issues of students difficulties in solving maths word problems  the early years of primary school This approach requires students to draw rectangular bars to represent the mathematical quantities and relationship. When students are given a problem, thinking block helps students to describe and solve the problem. Ministry of Education Singapore, 2012

What is Thinking Block?

What is Thinking Block? assist students to describe the situations involved assist students to understand in detail the operations involved assist students to see the relationship between the variables involved Yeap Ban Har, 2010- Thinking block able to

What is Thinking Block? Male Female In a swimming camp, the number of male participants was 5 times the number of female participants. After 144 of male participants left the camp, the number of female participants was two times the number of male. What was the total number of participants at the beginning of the camp?

What is Thinking Block? Male Female 144 In a swimming camp, the number of male participants was 5 times the number of female participants. After 144 of male participants left the camp, the number of female participants was two times the number of male. What was the total number of participants at the beginning of the camp?

What is Thinking Block? Male Female 9 parts = 144 1 part = 144 ÷ 9 16 16 9 parts = 144 1 part = 144 ÷ 9 = 16 participants Number of male participants = 10 x 16 = 160 Number of female participants = 2 x 16 = 32

Why it is introduced in Malaysian Education System? Malaysian students think that Fraction is a difficult topic The difficulties are due to the teaching method which is abstract in nature and too complex Students are not able to grasp the concept of fractions, have a vague understanding on the concept of fractions, possess low proficiency level, and fail to apply the concept of fractions in solving fraction-based problems

Why it is introduced in Malaysian Education System? Results of TIMSS apparently affirmed that Malaysian students were very weak in the cognitive domain of application and reasoning which required the students to use higher order thinking skills (HOTS) In TIMSS, fraction is part of the number domain.

Research Objectives To identify the changes in the students’ applying level in the learning of fractions using Thinking Blocks. To identify the changes in the students’ analysing level in the learning of fractions using Thinking Blocks. To identify the changes in the students’ evaluating level in the learning of fractions using Thinking Blocks To identify the changes in the students’ creating level in the learning of fractions using Thinking Blocks.

Research Methodology Aspects Explanation Research Design A quasi-experimental method Research Instrument The items in the pre- and post-test were developed based on Form 1 Integrated Curriculum for Secondary Schools (KBSM) Mathematics and based on top four HOTS levels, the ability to apply, analyse, evaluate and create (Malaysian Examination Syndicates ) Samples Consisted of 54 students who had similar academic backgrounds. 22 students were in the control group while 32 students in the experimental group Groups The samples from the experimental group were given treatment on the teaching and learning process based on Thinking Blocks, while the control group was given the process of learning and teaching using the traditional methods. Intervention Learning activities based on Thinking Blocks Topic Form 1 Fraction

Data Analysis HOTS Levels   Pre-test Post-test Applying Z -1.440 -3.188 Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) .150 .001 Analysing -1.655 -3.947 .098 .000 Evaluating -1.138 -5.023 .255 Creating -1.058 -5.262 .290 Overall -2.368 -4.575 .018 Mann-Whitney test results indicated that there was significant difference between experimental and control groups in all 4 levels

Discussion Levels Definitions Discussion Applying It is defined as the cognitive abilities to use information in new situation (Malaysian Examination Syndicates, 2013; Anderson & Karathwohl, 2001) Yeap Ban Har (2010) – Problem solving using thinking block helps students to describe situations involved, and then help students to understand in detail the operations involved Analysing The ability to analyse components to understand the organization, structure, and relationship between components (Malaysian Examination Syndicates, 2013; Anderson & Karathwohl, 2001) Diagram (thinking blocks) drawn by the students can help them to see relationship between the variables involved

Discussion Levels Definitions Discussion Evaluating Making assessment based on specific criteria (Malaysian Examination Syndicates, 2013; Anderson & Karathwohl, 2001) Drawing helps students to analyse information easily and thus easier for them to solve a problem. The question at this level requires students to create justification for each answer submitted but before that they need to do the calculation (block thinking). Creating A combination of elements to form a new idea or structure (Malaysian Examination Syndicates, 2013; Anderson & Karathwohl, 2001) When students were given mathematics word problems, thinking blocks enhance students’ understanding to create schematic representation (rectangular bars) and then enable them to make the proper selection of mathematical operations and procedures involved (Mahoney, 2012).

Conclusion Changes in curriculum Changes in pedagogy Changes in assessment Students can : Make decision Solve problems Innovate Create National level assessment UPSR PT3 SPM STPM International level assessment TIMSS PISA The Implementation of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in Malaysian Classrooms (Malaysian Ministry of Education)