IJORER : International Journal of Recent Educational Research
Articles in Press

Problem-Based Learning and Differentiated Instruction in Elementary Mathematics: A Systematic Literature Review of Students’ Problem-Solving




Article Info

Publish Date
05 Jun 2026

Abstract

Objective: This systematic literature review aims to analyze research trends related to the implementation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Differentiated Instruction (DI) in elementary mathematics education, particularly in relation to students’ problem-solving abilities. Method: The review followed the PRISMA protocol by systematically searching the Scopus database. From 92 identified records, 24 empirical studies published between 2021 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies were analyzed based on research design, instructional approach, and problem-solving focus.. Results: The findings indicate that both PBL and DI independently contribute positively to students’ mathematical problem-solving skills, including reasoning, strategy development, and higher-order thinking. However, most studies examined PBL and DI separately, while only a limited number explicitly integrated both approaches within a single instructional framework. Novelty: This review highlights a significant research gap regarding the explicit integration of PBL and DI in elementary mathematics learning, emphasizing the need for instructional models that simultaneously address problem-centered learning and learner diversity.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijorer

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Mathematics Other

Description

IJORER is an international journal (double-blind peer review) that focuses on Recent Educational Research. The journal concerns in Recent Educational Research accepts articles in the field of Education: instruction, learning, teaching, curriculum development, learning environments, teacher ...