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Critical Problem-Solving Phases and Teacher Interventions in MathCityMap Trails

TEM Journal | 2026

Paper Details

Authors: Medová J.; Masaryková M.; Haringová S.

DOI: 10.18421/TEM151-50

Journal: TEM Journal

Year: 2026

Publisher: UIKTEN - Association for Information Communication Technology Education and Science

Document Type: Article

Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access

Cited by: 0

Abstract

– This study investigates critical phases in primary pupils' problem-solving processes during mathematical trails utilizing the MathCityMap mobile application, focusing particularly on the identification of phases in which pupils commonly face challenges and the types of teacher interventions required. Conducted with third-grade pupils at a rural primary school in Slovakia, the research utilized the descriptive phase model to systematically analyse video-recorded problem-solving activities on mathematical trails. Results indicated that pupils frequently encountered difficulties during the Analysis and Exploration phases, mainly due to vocabulary comprehension, task instructions interpretation, practical execution of measurements, and arithmetic operations. Teacher interventions, including vocabulary clarification, visual representations, and strategic prompting towards proper problem-solving approaches, significantly enhanced pupils' progression through problematic phases. Immediate feedback provided by the MathCityMap app effectively supported pupils’ motivation and engagement but occasionally limited reflective practices. Findings underscore the importance of targeted teacher interventions and structured reflective practices within technology-enhanced outdoor learning contexts. © (2026), (UIKTEN - Association for Information Communication Technology Education and Science). All rights reserved.

Keywords

MathCityMap; Mathematical trails; outdoor learning; problem-solving; teacher intervention