(1668) PEDAGOGICAL APPROACHES TO TEACHING MATHEMATICS FOR BUILDING ANALYTICAL, PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AND CRITICAL THINKING

摘要

This paper is the result of scientific analysis and assessment of scientific literature and a number of information sources taking into consideration the author's reflection experience and observations in connection with what the process of mathematics learning should be under the competency-based approach allowing the development of a university student’s analytical skills, problem-solving and critical thinking. The empirical part of the research is based on the survey of teachers of mathematics in Latvia, in order to identify their experience in the implementation of different pedagogical approaches in the course of mathematics, and to assess to what extent these methods contribute to the development of analytical skills, problem-solving and critical thinking and how they are developed in a particular study program. Summarizing the findings in this study, the leading teaching strategy at the universities in Latvia is a teacher-directed instruction. This strategy is the most widespread and the most effective in terms of time if you have to learn a large amount of study materials. However, the study shows that the more often this strategy is used, the lower the student achievements in mathematics. To encourage students' analytical skills, problem-solving and critical thinking, other teaching strategies must be chosen.