Abstract:
This classroom action research was to study mathematical discussion and problem solving abilities of grade 10 students using the Five Practices through designing and organizing learning activities in quadratics functions. The target group included forty-seven 10th grade students enrolled in the second semester of academic year 2017 in Wattanothaipayap School. The research was conducted along the 4 steps of continuous 3 cycles of classroom action research composed of Plan, Act, Observe, and Reflect (PAOR). Learning activities focused on designing and organizing learning activities through the Five Practices was developed by Smith and Stein (2011) ; Anticipating, Monitoring, Selecting, Sequencing, and Connecting students ideas through mathematical concepts. The research instruments consisted of 8 lesson plans, a five-item subjective test on mathematical problem solving abilities - that showed the difficulty ranged from 0.44 to 0.75, the discrimination ranged from 0.59 to 0.78, and the reliability was 0.84, teachers notes, mathematical discussion observation form, voice recording, VDO recording and photos. The data were analyzed in terms of mean, standard deviation, percentage and analytical description. The findings revealed that for a small group discussion, the student had mathematical discussion ability at good level. Moreover, 33.33% of students frequently used the sharing ideas component in the whole class discussion. For the rest of components, students spent the suggestions, the use of principles and reasons, and questioning and issues at 28.57%, 23.81% and 14.49% consecutively. In addition, students mathematical problem solving abilities was at good level.