Improving students’ higher order mathematical thinking skills in accelerated classes through purdue learning model

Abstract

The acceleration program is a positive alternative for intellectually gifted students to obtain relevant education with their potential to develop optimally. The purpose of this study was to improve higher order mathematical thinking skills (HOMTS) in accelerated class students through the Purdue learning model. The research was conducted at one of the state junior high schools in Tangerang Selatanfor the 2016/2017 academic year. The research method was Classroom Action Research (CAR) in two cycles. Data were collected using observation sheets, daily journals, and tests. The results revealed that the application of the Purdue learning model could increase the average HOMTS of 63.75 in the first cycle to 74.25 in the second cycle. The improvement of HOMTS includes aspects of analyzing, evaluating, and creating. Student activities including visual, oral, writing, drawing, motor, mental and emotional also increased in the very good category. In addition, the results of the study also revealed that most students gave positive responses to the Purdue learning model. The conclusion of this study is that the application of the Purdue model in mathematics learning can improve HOMTS, activities, and students’ positive responses.