Abstract

• The title of this study is an analytical study of the use of problem-based learning model in Grade Nine physics teaching. In this study, both quantitative research and qualitative research methods were used. Quantitative research method was used to analyze students’ physics achievement. Qualitative research method was used to investigate attitudes of teachers towards the problembased learning model, and those of students towards physics learning through learning activities based on the proposed problem-based learning model. The non-equivalent control group design, one of the quasi-experimental designs, was adopted in this study. Two township of Mandalay region and two township of Sagaing region were selected by simple random sampling method. The selected schools were No. (1), BEHS Kyauk Se and No. (2), BEHS C.W.S Amarapura from Mandalay Region and, Practising High School, Shwe Min Wun, Sagaing and No.(1), BEHS Monywa from Sagaing Region were selected as the sample schools by using simple random sampling method. There were (405) Grade Nine students from the selected schools as participant for experimental study. There were (201) students for qualitative research study. The instruments were used in this study were pretest, posttest, questionnaire, and interview. Learning materials were selected for Grade Nine physics textbook. The pretest means were the same; therefore the posttest scores were analyzed by using independent samples t test. If they were not, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) would be used. According to t-test and ANCOVA results, a difference in physics achievement was significantly found between the experimental groups and the control group. According to qualitative research finding, students’ attitude developed in four dimensions: cooperative skills, problem solving skills, academic skills and learning abilities. Finally, research findings proved that the proposed problem-based learning model had positive contribution to Grade Nine physics teaching and learning.