The analysis of students’ combinatorial thinking skills in solving r-dynamic vertex coloring under the implementation of problem based learning

Abstract

Learning implementation is expected to maximize the students’ combinatorial thinking skill. This research was intended to examine the students’ combinatorial thinking skill and the implementation of problem based learning to improve the students’ combinatorial thinking skill in solving the problem of r-dynamic vertex coloring. The method used was the mixed-methods that combined quantitative and qualitative research. This research involved 86 participants that were divided into two classes; experimental and control classes. There were 42 students in the control class and 44 students in the experimental class. This study showed that there was a significant difference showed by the value of independent t-test for post-test. The data analysis showed the independent sample t-test value of post-test was 0.000 ≤ 0.05, so it was significant. Thus, there was an influence on the implementation of problem based learning on improving the students’ combinatorial thinking skill in solving r-dynamic vertex coloring problem. Based on the results of the portrait phase analysis, it is known that students in the control class have relatively low combinatorial thinking and the experimental class has relatively higher combinatorial thinking can be seen from the number of indicators mastered by each student.