Optimizing Styrofoam Media to Improve Year 8 Student’s Mathematics Learning Outcomes in Linear Equation

Select Volume / Issue:

• Volume 8,Issue 3,May 2020

Year:

2020

Type of Publication:

Article

Keywords:

Learning Outcomes, Styrofoam, Linear Equations

Authors:

Nana Puspita

Journal:

IJISM

Volume:

8

Number:

3

Pages:

104-109

Month:

May

ISSN:

2347-9051

Abstract:

This study aims to examine the improvement in student learning outcomes, students’ activity and teachers’ ability in managing the learning. The learning media used is Styrofoam and threads to create linear equation graphs. This classroom action research (CAR) was conducted in two cycles, with each cycle consisting of planning, action, observation and reflection. The research subjects were 23 Year 8 students in one of the junior high school in Pidie Jaya District, Aceh, Indonesia. Pre-treatment showed that 52% of the students did not satisfy the minimum criteria for mastery learning. Data collection was under taken by tests and observations. The research instruments were test items, student activity sheet and the teacher activity sheet. The percentage of students who satisfied the minimum criteria of mastery learning was 65.3% (Cycle I) and 78.3% (Cycle II). The data of the student activities observation showed that 61.4% of students were active in Cycle 1, and the figure increased in Cycle II, reaching to 69.9%. Besides, the observation results of the teaching and learning process conducted by the teachers were 62.5% (fair) in the first cycle, and it was increased to 72.3% (good) after the improvement in the teaching and learning. This research concluded that the Styrofoam media for the topic of the linear equation could improve student learning outcomes, increase student activity and improve the ability of teachers to conduct teaching and learning.

Full text: IJISM_896_FINAL.pdf [Bibtex]