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Exploring strategies for fostering problem-solving skills in students in an Actuarial Science context using action research

Dissertation (MSc (Science Education))--University of Pretoria, 2020.

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Other Authors: Harding, Ansie
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2021
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Harding, Ansie
author_browse Harding, Ansie
author_facet Harding, Ansie
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Science Education))--University of Pretoria, 2020.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/79136
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:13.330Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2021
publishDateRange 2021
publishDateSort 2021
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/79136 Exploring strategies for fostering problem-solving skills in students in an Actuarial Science context using action research Harding, Ansie gouws.elsa@gmail.com Venter, Marli Gouws, Elsa Science Education Teaching strategies learning strategies problem solving problem-solving strategies problem-solving skills UCTD Dissertation (MSc (Science Education))--University of Pretoria, 2020. This study explores strategies to foster problem-solving skills in students. Educational strategies, problem-solving strategies and strategies to improve creativity are introduced using a participatory action research (PAR) design. The research is located within the specific context of a qualitative interpretivist study. A PAR design is used to ensure that shortcomings with the approach can be identified and improvements can be implemented as the cycle is repeated. The intervention strategy took the form of two cycles of three sessions each where students were exposed to problem-solving strategies as part of their Actuarial Science Honours course. The participants were Actuarial Science Honours students at the University of Pretoria. Data on how the students experienced the interventions and their ability to apply the strategies were collected using surveys and focus-group discussions. The researcher also observed and reflected on the behaviour of students in the sessions. The aim with analysing the data was to establish the effect that exposure to the strategies had on students' ability to develop problem-solving skills. The findings of the study reveal that exposure to the strategies made students aware that problem-solving skills were important to acquire in the Actuarial Science field and for life in general. They gained insight into what aspects were required to foster the skills within themselves. Students started applying some of the strategies to improve their understanding of the underlying fundamentals of their subjects. They also started applying some of the strategies to improve their ability to solve problems in a structured and creative way. However, given the time constraints and pressures of their Honours year, they struggled to apply these strategies consistently, especially under test and examination conditions. The conclusion, concurring with the literature, is that students should be exposed to problem-solving strategies on a regular basis to foster problem-solving skills. The more students practise solving problems, the more natural it would become for them to use the strategies. In an effective education system, what students need to learn, how it is taught, assessed and how all aspects are intertwined with the goal of meaningful learning by students must be aligned. Insurance and Actuarial Science MSc (Science Education) Unrestricted 2021-03-29T08:28:43Z 2021-03-29T08:28:43Z 2021-08 2020 Dissertation Gouws, E 2020, Exploring strategies for fostering problem-solving skills in students in an Actuarial Science context using action research, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd http://hdl.handle.net/2263/79136 S2021 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/79136 en © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Science Education
Teaching strategies
learning strategies
problem solving
problem-solving strategies
problem-solving skills
UCTD
Exploring strategies for fostering problem-solving skills in students in an Actuarial Science context using action research
title Exploring strategies for fostering problem-solving skills in students in an Actuarial Science context using action research
title_full Exploring strategies for fostering problem-solving skills in students in an Actuarial Science context using action research
title_fullStr Exploring strategies for fostering problem-solving skills in students in an Actuarial Science context using action research
title_full_unstemmed Exploring strategies for fostering problem-solving skills in students in an Actuarial Science context using action research
title_short Exploring strategies for fostering problem-solving skills in students in an Actuarial Science context using action research
title_sort exploring strategies for fostering problem solving skills in students in an actuarial science context using action research
topic Science Education
Teaching strategies
learning strategies
problem solving
problem-solving strategies
problem-solving skills
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/79136