LEVELS OF STUDENTS’ USE OF SEMANTIC KNOWLEDGE IN PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS

Educators have tried to determine the factors that affect the problem solving process since problem solving is an important part of learning mathematics skills in order to generate effective solutions against the problems that they encounter. In this scope, the aim of the study is to determine the level at which the 11th grade students utilize semantic knowledge that is used in problem solving process. Four verbal problems, which were suitable for the level of students, were prepared as data collection tool in the first stage of the study. These problems were given to the students in the second stage. Clinical interview method was used in the study. At the end of the study, it was observed from the obtained data that the students could not effectively use semantic knowledge in the problem solving process; they fell short in correctly identifying what was given in the problem and explaining what the values they found represented and they could not transform the relational factors given in the problem into correct equations.