Transferring of Mathematics Knowledge into the Physics Learning to Promote Students’ Problem-Solving Skills

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to determine the extent of effectiveness of transfer of mathematics knowledge-model in enhancing the students’ ability of physics problem solving. In this collaborative study, a quasy-experimental method with non-equivalent control group pretest posttest design was carried out on 248 eleventh grade students of four public senior high schools (SMAN) in Pontianak-Westkalimantan, Indonesia. Experimental group consists of 125 students received instruction using the transfer of mathematics knowledge-model while the other group (123 students) serving as control was taught in conventional model. A Mathematics Prior Knolwedge Test (MPT) and a Physics Achievement Test (PAT) were developed to examine effect of the two treatments. A three-times instructional intervention on sound wave topic was implemented. The results revealed that transfer of mathematics knowledge did make students could solve the problems better than the conventional learning. It is also found that the understanding of mathematics prior knowledge could be a significant predictor to estimate students’ problem solving competencies in physics.This study not only has enriched a significant perspective of problem solving in education, but also provided a clear insight regarding the implementation of transfer of mathematics knowledge into physics learning.