MATHEMATICS CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES BASED ON SOME TOPICS IN GRAPH THEORY TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Eko Santoso

doi:10.24071/ijiet.2018.020207

Abstract

In Indonesia, graph theory is not part of Mathematics primary or secondary school Curriculum. Most students learn graph theory in university, especially those who takes major in Mathematics or Computer Science. This paper is a theoretical study in Mathematics Education which proposes some Mathematics classroom activities based on some concepts in graph theory to develop critical thinking for high school students as well as grade school. Some concepts in graph theory, such as vertex coloring and domination set can be used in primary and secondary schools to develop critical thinking of the students. These activities should be fun for the students since teacher may use it as a game in the class room.

Highlights

In Indonesia, graph theory is not part of grade school and high school curriculum (Depdiknas, 2016)
This paper is a theoretical study in Mathematics Education which proposes some Mathematics classroom activities based on some concepts in graph theory to develop critical thinking for high school students as well as grade school
Whether graph theory has been taught in school or not, still we can use some concepts in graph theory as classroom activities to improve their critical thinking capability

Summary

Introduction

In Indonesia, graph theory is not part of grade school and high school curriculum (Depdiknas, 2016). In Indonesia graph theory is not part of primary and secondary school curriculum, we may use some topics in graph theory, such as eulerian graph, spanning tree, vertex coloring, or domination, as a classroom activities to enhance critical thinking of the student. Chukwuyenum says that “critical thinking skills was an effective means of enhancing students’ understanding of Mathematics concepts.” (Chukwuyenum, 2013) He recommends that an institution who trains secondary school Mathematics teachers should include critical thinking in their curriculum. Didactic methods and means to highlight each learning experience of each geometric concept.” (Dinuță, 2015) When she took a class on Graph Theory and Its Application, Smithers (2005) learned that graph theory should be taught for high school student so they may be exposed earlier to the beauty of this branch of Mathematics. She proposed some topics in graph theory that can be taught to secondary school students

Theory Graph Theory

Conclusion