The mathematical problem solving processes of gifted students and the strategies they used

In this study, the problem solving processes and the problem solving strategies of gifteds in Turkey they used in the process were examined. This study was designed as a holistic multiple case study and the participants of the study were 12 gifteds who were in the seven grade and studied in a Science and Art Center. The participants were determined by using purposive sampling method. Semi structured interwiews were conducted with the gifteds to obtain solutions to 14 matematical problems that were implemented during six weeks in 72 problem solving sessions. In the problem solving sessions, the problem solving processes of the students and the strategies they used were examined in detail by using the thinking aloud technique and taking researcher interview notes. The data were analyzed in two main stages based on qualitative research methods by using the descriptive analysis technique. The first stage involved determining the strategies that gifteds used by coding their answers to the problems in the problem solving test. In the second stage, students' problem solving processes and their competencies to use problem solving strategies were examined. The results showed that gifteds could use at least one strategy while they solved mathematical problems and they were successful in the problem solving process, but they did not check the correctness of their solutions. Additionally it has been revealed that gifteds could apply the strategies correctly in the problem solving process, the strategies they used in the problem solving process were clear and understandable, and they could develop more strategies for mathematical problems which were challenge to them by using different solutions. In the light of these results, we have several suggestions to mathematics teachers, researchers and mathematics teacher educators.