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International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Education 2026, Vol 10(1) 1-27

An Inquiry-Based Approach to Improving Mathematical Literacy in Gifted Students

Duygu Alyeşil Kabakci • Süha Yılmaz
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Article Type
Research article
Publication Date
June 08, 2026
Pages
1-27
DOI
10.29329/ijiape.2026.1443.2

Abstract

Mathematical literacy encompasses students' abilities to formulate mathematical problems encountered in real-life contexts, use mathematics in the problem-solving process, and interpret the results obtained. Furthermore, it is considered a multifaceted skill area involving higher-order cognitive processes that support an individual's ability to apply mathematics in various situations. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of inquiry-based mathematics teaching on the development of mathematics literacy performance in gifted Year 7 students. The research was derived from a doctoral thesis conducted by the first author under the supervision of the second author. The research was conducted using a teaching experiment design within the scope of qualitative methods. The study group consisted of eight gifted students selected through criterion sampling. The teaching process was structured based on the guided inquiry approach and used PISA-style open-ended problems that supported active student participation. Data were collected through pre-, mid-, and post-clinical interviews and audio recordings. The clinical interviews were analysed using content analysis, while the teaching experiment session data were analysed using descriptive analysis. The findings revealed that inquiry-based teaching improved students' mathematical literacy performance and led to significant developments in their ability to understand problems and relate data and concepts within the formulation process.

Keywords: Mathematical Literacy PISA Inquiry-Based Teaching Gifted Student
Cite this article
Alyeşil Kabakci, D. & Yılmaz, S. (2026). An Inquiry-Based Approach to Improving Mathematical Literacy in Gifted Students. International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Education, 10(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiape.2026.1443.2

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