An application for teaching matrix at science and art centers (Bi̇lsem)

This research aims to evaluate the skills of seven secondary school students studying at Science and Art Centers to solve daily life problems through matrices. While collecting the data, a lecture material covering the lecture content of the course was distributed to the students first. Later, subject teaching and sample solutions were made. An evaluation was made to the students with the knowledge test prepared in this context. Knowledge test, skills of expressing a given situation contained in it with matrices, skills of doing operations in matrices, and Polya's ability to use problem-solving steps in matrices were examined using the rubrics prepared and the case study method. In the research, the effectiveness of Polya's problem solving steps to improve students' problem solving skills was examined. Within the scope of the research, various problems related to matrices were given to secondary school students studying at BILSEM and the steps they followed during the solution of these problems were evaluated. The problem solving processes of the students were analyzed in accordance with the stages of "understanding the problem", "making a plan for the solution", "implementing the plan" and "evaluating the solution", which are Polya's problem solving steps. The findings of the research show that students have made significant improvements in problem solving processes using matrices. However, it has been determined that there are difficulties, especially in matrix multiplication and subtraction operations. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to use matrices more effectively in educational processes to improve students' problem-solving skills. Keywords: BİLSEM, matrices, problem solving, Polya's problem-solving steps