Xin receives Kinley Trust award to research elementary math problem-solving

Yan Ping Xin, professor of special education in the Department of Educational Studies,received a 2026 Clifford B. Kinley Trust award to support her research in mathematics problem solving.

Her project, “The Effect of Model-based Problem Posing (COMPS+PP) on Math Problem-Solving Performance of Elementary Students with Diverse Needs,” will begin in Summer 2026 (pending IRB approval). The Conceptual Model-based Problem Solving with Problem Posing (COMPS+PP) intervention seeks to transform students from disengaged or passively engaged learners to active and enthusiastic participants in mathematics problem solving.

The COMPS+PP is an advancement of the COMPS program through integrating student problem posing, a research-based practice from the field of mathematics education, in problem solving intervention.

“Through actively engaging students with diverse learning needs/cultural backgrounds in problem posing, I hope the COMPS+PP program will improve math problem solving performance of diverse learners, particularly students who may not respond well to the traditional instruction,” Xin said.

The COMPS program created by Xin has been used by the Made for Math tutoring company to help students learn math. Additionally, Xin has been invited as a featured speaker at the upcoming Rethinking Math Intervention global summit.

The Clifford B. Kinley Trust award was established in 1978 to fund research relating to human welfare, and was activated in 1991. The annual award recognizes the important role of faculty principal investigators (PIs) from the West Lafayette campus and was established to fund research which uses a social science perspective to explore methods for improving the human condition.