Using Visualization Methods in Teaching 6th Grade Students to Solve Word Problems
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Date
2026
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SDU University
Abstract
This study focuses at the efficiency of employing visualization tools to solve mathematical word problems for sixth graders. The study topic is focused on students' difficulty converting content of word problem into mathematical expressions (modeling) and their tendency to depend solely on "keywords" in the content. To overcome this issue, an one-group pretest and posttest quantitative research methodology was implemented. The study included 30 sixth-grade students recruited by convenience sampling. A pretest to identify the beginning level was used to gather data, followed by a one-month pedagogical intervention to teach visualization tools such as modeling and schematic diagrams, and finally a posttest. To assess the research findings, all 300 replies (10 questions⋅30 students) were examined using a specialized structural modeling descriptor ranging from 0 to 3. The t-test for dependent samples revealed a substantial increase in scores between the pretest (M=14.37) and posttest (M=15.87) (𝑝 < 0,001). The calculated Cohen’s d effect size of 0.311 further confirms a small-to-medium practical impact of the visualization intervention on the students' modeling and word problem-solving abilities. Quantitative study revealed that most of students effectively advanced from a low level of competence to graph word problems (0-1 points) to a level of proper structural modeling (2 points). Finally, this study statistically verified that systematic training of visualization tools minimizes cognitive burden while considerably improving 6th grade students' ability to properly model and solve mathematical word problems.
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Keywords
visualization tools, mathematical word problems, sixth-grade students, schematic diagrams
Citation
Kyrgyzbay A / Using Visualization Methods in Teaching 6th Grade Students to Solve Word Problems / SDU University / Department of Pedagogy of Natural Sciences