Analysis of the Difficulty of Mathematical Education Students in Completing the Geometric Running Problem Based on Van Hiele Theory in Geometry Transformation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to: (1) finding out the difficulties experienced by mathematics education students in solving geometric reasoning problems based on van Hiele's theory; (2) identifying the factors causing difficulties experienced by students in solving geometric problems based on van Hiele’s theory; and (3) determining the steps that need to be taken to overcome the students' difficulties in solving geometric reasoning problems based on van Hiele's theory in the Transformation Geometry Course. The students' difficulties in solving geometric reasoning problems based on van Hiele's levels will give an idea of the indicators of geometrical reasoning abilities that are still low, so that the right alternative solutions are obtained. This type of research is descriptive research with a qualitative approach. The research subjects were 28 students who programed geometry transformation courses. The instrument in this study was a test instrument, namely geometric reasoning abilities of students as many as 5 questions consisting of 5 levels of ability, namely visualization, analysis, abstraction, formal deduction, and rigor. While the data analysis techniques in this study used descriptive analysis. Collecting data in this study used interview techniques and written tests. The results showed that from the five indicators of geometric reasoning ability, for the visualization level, there were 26 people who achieved the optimal score with a percentage of 92.9. Seen at the level of analysis still not reached optimally with a percentage of 21.4 or only 6 people who achieved the optimal score, while the level of abstraction, formal deduction, and rigor has not been achieved. Difficulties experienced by students at the level of analysis, abstraction, formal deduction, and rigor. The causal factors experienced by students based on the results of interviews obtained information that students have difficulty answering questions due to several things including; students have forgotten about the material being taught, when they learn they understand but are less interested in developing, feel unsatisfied so they expect concrete media, need to be trained in many questions, and follow up to students. From this information, an appropriate alternative is needed, for example using van Hiele's theory to familiarize students with reasoning skills.