Individuals development of the metacognitive thinking skills on solving math word problems

Abstract

Abstract Metacognition as knowledge and cognition on cognitive phenomenon and one’s own knowledge on his self-cognitive processes and use of this knowledge in order to monitor cognitive processes. Metacognitive skills refer to a person’s procedural knowledge for regulating one’s learning activities including problem solving. Word problems in mathematics have been vastly included in educational literature mainly due to the fact that the issue is considered to be one of the most difficult in math lessons. This research aimed at investigating the contribution of students’ ability to metacognitive thinking to metacognitive thinking skills in the aspects of prediction, planning, monitoring, and evaluation through the provision of mathematical words problems. The data was collected through tests, Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI-Jr-Modified) observation sheets and interviews. The results of the study showed that the score of students metacognitive ability was 75.80 which contributed to the level of students metacognitive thinking skills at 78.98% in the high category based on the four aspects of metacognitive skills namely 78.13%; 81.25%; 84.38% and 71.88%. Learning through the provision of mathematical problems in the form of words problems can develop students metacognitive skills.