Realistic mathematics education learning model to improve junior high students’ problem-solving ability in social arithmetics

Abstract

This study was focused on how to improve junior high students’ problem-solving ability through the Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) learning model. Through problem-solving, students are required to make their own efforts to find solutions and built their own knowledge. One of the mathematical learning models that allow students to build their own knowledge is the RME learning model. RME learning model giving contextual problems that related to students’ real life and they will be motivated to learn and gained by their experience. This study is quantitative research with the experimental method. The data of this study were collected using the test method. Before the instrument is used, the instrument of the test must fulfill as good item criteria to retrieve data on the study include the level of difficulty, discriminating power, and reliability. The data analysis technique used in this study was the t-test with a significance level of 5%. Before testing the hypothesis, the first step is to conduct a prerequisite test i.e. normality and homogeneity test. The results show that the students’ problem-solving abilities in social arithmetics taught using the RME learning model are better than the students’ problem-solving abilities who are taught using conventional learning models.