Invoking Higher Order Thinking Skills of Lower Achievers in First Derivatives with Polmind Method

Current researches are indicating that HOTS among students especially those among Low Achievers (LA) is weak. This paper would like to share a method that combines Polya’s problem solving model with Buzan’s Mind Maps to elevate HOTS among students, especially the LA. A quasiexperimental study was conducted where the intervention group were taught the Polmind Method for the topic First Derivative and the control group (Higher Achievers, HA) was taught the topic with the use of traditional workbooks. In the pre-test, HA shows significantly higher scores compared to LA. However, after intervention, the LA have been able to surpass the scores of the HA, although the results are not significant. This suggest that the Polmind Method is able to close the gap in HOTS between HA and LA at least in temporarily. A longitudinal study on the effects of Polmind Method in other Mathematics topics to elevate HOTS is a possible extended study.