Implementation research in primary education: Design and evaluation of a problem-solving innovation

Overview & Synopsis

Problem solving is a binding process standard that is often neglected in school mathematics, and generally reserved for motivated and gifted students only. Researchers also call for the development of problem-solving competences, starting already in primary school to promote the habits of mind, that can be applicable in situations varying from challenges in school to those in life. Different questions emerge in this context. What tasks are suitable to reach all students? What might a differentiated problem-solving classroom look like that would attain to individual student needs? In this article, we present a problem-solving implementation research project. For this purpose, a problem-solving teaching concept with an accompanying type of task for primary education was developed based on both theory and projects on problem solving. The first results indicate positive outcomes with respect to meeting the requirements of practical suitability, and sustainability.