The Synectics Teaching Method: Effects on the Problem- Solving and Creative Thinking Skills of Learners in Physics

The study focused on the effects of the synetics teaching method on the student’s creative thinking and problem-solving skills in physics. The researcher used the quantitative research method, specifically the descriptive quasi- experimental design was employed to find out if the use of the synectics teaching method enhances the problem-solving and creative thinking skills of the Grade 12 students in physics. Intact groups were selected and then matched according to age, final grade in Physics 1, pre-test in problem-solving skills and pre-test in creative thinking skills. The post-test mean scores of the experimental and control groups are 17.52 and 14.90 respectively. The two groups in creative thinking skills slightly differed with 3.978 for experimental group and 3.61 for the control indicating an improved in creative thinking skills of the students. The difference in the pre-tests and post-tests scores of the two groups in the problem-solving skills test of the experimental group showed better improvement when synectics teaching techniques in the eight (8) modules were utilized. The p-value of 0.00243 indicates that the post test mean scores of the two groups differ significantly. The experimental group performs better than the control group in terms of Problem-Solving Skills. Finally, the relationship between problem solving skills and creative thinking skills of the experimental group revealed that the interaction between the creative thinking skills vis-à-vis problem-solving skills has low significant relationship as implied by the p-value of -0.045 indicating that the high problem-solving skills of the students varies inversely with the creative thinking skills.