The article that I have reviewed is about Physics problem solving : Determining more and

less successful problem solvers by Marlina Ali , Nor Hasniza Ibrahim , Abdul Halim Abdullah ,
Johari Surif and Nurshamela Saim that was published in 2014 from Department of Educational
Science,Mathematics and Creative Multimedia,UTM,Malaysia.The aim of this study is to determine
the benchmark in choosing more successful and less successful students in Physics problem
solving to discover whether the more successful problem solver are more metacognitive in their
approaches. As explained by the authors in their article, metacognition is defined as higher level of
thinking that requires active control over the thinking process involved in problem solving such as
planning,monitoring and evaluate the problem solving. By citing the works from other
researcher ,the authors stated that the benchmark in selecting between expert and new beginner
in problem solving were based on three criteria which are experiences, background knowledge and
performances which is slightly contrast to the studies conducted by the authors.In the study
conducted by Marlina , Nor , Abdul , Johari and Nurshamela (2014), the criteria of selecting
between more successful and less successful problem solvers is performances .To determine
more successful and less successful problem solvers in the authors studies , 21 students that
have physics knowledge need to sit for Physics Problem Solving Achievement Test ( PPSAT) with
no fixed time by talking out loud and they will be recorded while trying to solve the problems.The
test consists of four questions where the two questions were drawn from mechanics and electrical
circuit. The students were grade according to Malaysian grading system where the marks that
below 40% is classification as less successful problem solver while marks that are above 40% is
classification as more successful problem solver. From the study conducted by the authors , 5
students among 21 where the percentage is 28.57 % were classified as more successful problem
solvers . Other than that , the authors also classified the problem solvers according to students
cooperation during talking out loud in solving the problems.
In my opinion , selecting and classifying the students in problem solving whether the
students are more successful and less successful have its own disadvantages and advantages.
The disadvantage is the students will have a low self esteem as they are being compared with their
other friends . This is because , when they are labelled as the less successful problem solver , they
will tend to feel shy and not confidence in their self. Other than that , it will lead to bias. This is
because , when the students are classified as less successful problem solvers, it is somehow will
become trends for their friends to ignore the loser and admire the intelligence. They tend to only
ask the more successful problem solver some questions rather than asking the less successful
problem solver as they did not believe and confident with the less successful problem
solvers .Apart of it , when the students know that they are classified as more successful students ,
they will tend to become overconfident in their self by thinking that they are smart enough as
everyone around them acknowledge their intelligent.The advantage of it is it can enhance students
self motivation and spirit in improving their self .Other than that , it will help the teachers to
generate exam questions in easiest way as they knew what their students capabilities.

The method used by the authors in identifying between the more and less successful
problem solvers were by test where the test consists of four questions that include students
metacognitive thinking in problem solving.Yes, it is good for students as it allows the students to
think deeply as the question asked were at the level of higher thinking .By that types of
question,students will questioning their self like how this question is like this , monitoring,analysing
even evaluating their answers. These are good as these shows whether do the students really
understand or not understand the task.Provide questions that involve metacognitive approach in
problem solving is a must especially for the university students as they have higher level of
thinking. However, I personally think that to identify the students whether they are more successful
or less successful, the authors should not only focused on students metacognitive in their
approach , the authors should also focus on students cognitive in their approach .Therefore , I
would like to suggest the authors to also include questions that consist and can test students
cognitive skill level that is also I believe it demands a greater level of cognitive skills that also lead
to deeper problem solving. To identify and characterised the students , the test should follows
Bloomss Taxanomy in generating the questions. There are six divisions of cognitive domains
which are knowledge,comprehension,application,analysis, synthesis and evaluate that requires
less process of cognitive thinking to deeper and higher cognitive thinking .In my perception, include
the six divisions of cognitive domain that have

different degrees of difficulties and the four

questions in the test are more precise and specific in classifying the students.
In the authors article , the authors succeed in explaining about the result of their study in
identifying the benchmark for selecting more successful student and less successful students.
Performance criteria according to the authors are conceptual understanding about the problem
solving in a paper test and students cooperation during talking out loud by categorising those
students who shows more cooperation in talking out loud as more successful problem solvers .
This kind of method is new to me and it is very effective and precise method to determine how
expert the students think and understand the problem solving.In my opinion ,the criteria in selecting
more successful problem solvers and less successful problem solvers can also be based on
experiences if the authors select the respondents from those who have experienced in physics
program or competition and those who don't have any experiences in the program.To identify how
experiences could be the criteria is during talking out loud and interview session. I do think that
metacognition skills among students in Malaysia are lower even though a lot of effort have been
made by teachers and also lectures to develop their students metacognitive thinking skill. Some of
the students are lack in general knowledge, are not exposing their self in reading many materials
and not interested in think about think when the questions asked are about giving opinion and so
on. That is why their metacognitive thinking skills are limited.In order for students to cultivate
metacognition skills and approaches in problem solving , the students itself should change their
habits and their way of solving the problem.