Teaching through problem solving (TTPS) as one of three approaches to problem-solving instruction¶
Design · All designs
Evidence · 3 claims (2 for, 1 against) · 1 study (1 causal),q3· 1 of 1 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study
Description¶
The article situates TTPS within Schroeder and Lester's three approaches: teaching about, for, and through problem solving. "Teaching through problem solving (TTPS) involves teaching mathematics concepts through problem-solving contexts, provides opportunities for students to develop higher-level thinking during mathematical problem solving, and takes place in an inquiry-oriented learning environment." TTPS lessons begin with word problems carrying high cognitive demand, and students must make sense of both the situation and the underlying mathematics. In this study TTPS is defined as an integration of instructor, instructional method, tasks, and learning environment.
Design Implications¶
Context¶
Requirements¶
- A supportive, inquiry-oriented learning environment with realistic, complex problems and opportunities for student-to-student discourse
Constraints¶
- The article states it is not possible to easily separate an intervention's effects attributed to the instructor, instructional method, tasks, and learning environment in classroom-based research
Target Learners¶
- sixth-grade middle school mathematics students
Learning Goals¶
- problem-solving performance
- mathematics content knowledge (rates, ratios, data analysis)
Claims¶
- Ttps Improves Problem Solving Within Group [+M]
- Ttps Posttest Ancova Advantage [+M]
- Ttps Unit Test Disadvantage [-M]
Related Designs¶
Examples¶
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Key Sources¶
- Jonathan D. Bostic, Stephen J. Pape, Tim Jacobbe. (2016). Encouraging Sixth-Grade Students' Problem-Solving Performance by Teaching Through Problem Solving. Investigations in Mathematics Learning, Volume 8, Number 3. https://rcml.org
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
design |
id |
ttps-teaching-through-problem-solving |
title |
Teaching through problem solving (TTPS) as one of three approaches to problem-solving instruction |
description |
The article situates TTPS within Schroeder and Lester's three approaches: teaching about, for, and through problem solving. |
status |
review |
generated |
by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-03 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — jonathan-d-bostic-2016 |
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