Enhancing Higher-Order Thinking Skills Levels In Mathematics Among Pre-Diploma Commerce Students Through Identifying Errors Teaching Technique

Abstract

This study aims to examine the enhancement of students’ higher-order thinking skills (HOTS), namely, analyzing, evaluating, and creating, in response to the usage of the identifying errors teaching (IET) technique within the framework of mathematics education. An experimental research design was used, in which pre-diploma commerce students of Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Melaka were divided into two groups. The experimental group (n = 50) consisted of students who were exposed to the IET technique designed for enhancing HOTS. The other group acted as a control (n = 57), wherein participants were taught traditionally. Six sets of tests consisting of mathematical problems with erroneous solutions were used as instruments to measure the HOTS elements of analyzing, evaluating, and creating in the students.  Students were required to identify mathematical errors from the mathematical problems that were given with erroneous solutions. These tests were delivered to students after completing each of the six related topics in an Intensive Mathematics (MAT037) course. The study found that the experimental group showed a statistically significant higher level of analyzing scores and statistically insignificant higher level of creating scores, compared to the control group. Both male and female students from the experimental group had a significantly higher level of analyzing scores than their sex peers from the control group.  There were no significant main effects across residential location and family income on analyzing, evaluating and creating scores. However, analyzing scores of students from the urban area of the experimental group were significantly higher compared to students from the urban area of the control group. There was also a statistically significant main effect across previous school location on analyzing scores. Students coming previously from rural or suburban school locations had higher creating scores than those coming from previously urban school locations. These results led to the conclusion that the IET technique influenced, and also may enhance creating and analyzing skills among pre-diploma commerce students.