THE EFFECT OF ALGEBRAIC REASONING ON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND PROBLEM SOLVING IN MATHEMATICS

• Main Author: Ramdhani, Boyke
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/42785
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Recent study shows Indonesian middle school students do not have enough capabilities in solving mathematical problems. This research aims to find out the effect of algebraic reasoning, especially on students’ conceptual understanding and problem solving. Algebraic reasoning is a systematic method where students were trying to generalize the patterns from the given problems, then constructing a general formula to solve some more complex problems. Twenty-four students were selected as samples that represent Grade 9, 10 and 11 of students in Bandung. Each of them were then groupped into two classes; an experimental class where they received the algebraic reasoning, and a controlled class where they learned to solve the mathematics problems by using a conventional method. Hypothesis Test A were conducted to find out the effect of algebraic reasoning on the learning process. On the other hand, the experimental class underwent two cycles of systematic algebraic reasoning (algebraization), where Hypotesis Test B were then conducted to find out the improvement of their conceptual understanding and problem solving. The results obtained so far shows that the systematic efforts in algebraic reasoning yield some positive effects in improving students’ conceptual understanding and problem solving.