Bangli- Mathematics has a very important role in human life. In fact, mastery of science subjects is often used as a benchmark for the progress of a nation. In Indonesia, based on the results of the 2019 Program for International Students Assessment (PISA) study, students’ math skills are still low, ranking 72 out of 78 countries. Furthermore, the results of research from the 2018 Research on Improvement of System Education (RISE), show that the ability of students to solve simple math problems is not significantly different between students who have just entered elementary school (SD) and those who have graduated from high school (SMA).
Taking into account these conditions, academics at the Ganesha University of Education (Undiksha) are trying to take strategic steps in an effort to improve the quality of learning mathematics in elementary schools (SD) through the Community Service program (PKM). This program targets elementary schools that are members of Cluster V, Kintamani District, Bangli Regency.
The academics, I Putu Pasek Suryawan, S.Pd., M.Pd., Gusti Ngurah Sastra Agustika, S.Sc., M.Pd., and Adrianus I Wayan Ilia Yuda Sukmana, S.Kom., M.Pd. Those who are part of a team implement a program entitled Activation of ICT-Based Mathematics Learning Resources and Concrete Manipulative Media. “This series of programs has been implemented since July 2020. This is in the form of a Community Partnership Program. Today we carry out core activities, by providing hands-on education and training,” said Pasek Suryawan on the sidelines of activities at SDN Catur which is the core school in Cluster V, Kintamani District, Saturday (29/8/2020)
Explained further, the implementation of the program funded by the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DRPM) Ristek-Brin consists of strengthening teacher competence in learning mathematics through strengthening teaching materials and learning strategies, designing and manufacturing concrete manipulative media (mathematics teaching aids) and ICT-based mathematics media for elementary schools, creating Math Lab as a mini mathematics lab in the classroom, increasing teachers’ abilities in designing mathematics learning that emphasizes mathematical activity (hand on – mind on), and familiarizing students with exploring mathematics independently in the Math Lab. Efforts to facilitate the activation of innovative mathematics learning resources for elementary school students are an alternative to support the educational paradigm in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 Era.
These steps, he continued, were a form of follow-up to the results of the situation analysis carried out in nine elementary schools that were members of Cluster V, Kintamani District. The team found that teachers still had difficulties in teaching mathematics or their mastery of the material was still weak, so they tended to teach mathematics using the lecture method, there was still a math phobia among students who considered mathematics a difficult subject, boring and even scary so that it had an impact on mathematics learning outcomes that were not optimal. Apart from that, there is also a minimum number of ICT-based learning media and teaching aids/mathematic media available in schools, even though elementary school students are still at the concrete operational stage and really need manipulation of real objects in embedding mathematical concepts, as well as the knowledge and skills of teachers in designing mathematics learning that emphasize mathematical activity is still low. “This issue is the basis for us to carry out the program and choose this cluster,” he said.
Pasek Suryawan added that the outcomes of the implementation of this program were that there had been an increase in teacher competence in elementary mathematics learning, a Math Lab had been developed as a mini mathematics laboratory in classrooms equipped with manipulative mathematics teaching aids and ICT-based media and teachers were able to use it in learning, and a model for developing sustainable elementary school teacher professionalism had been formed, in the form of lesson study groups. “We hope that the program we carry out can improve the quality of education, especially in the field of mathematics,” he added.
This dedication activity was attended by the Head of Cluster V of Kintamani District who is also the Head of SD N Catur I Made Reneng, S.Pd.SD. In addition, the Superintendent of Supervisors for Elementary Schools in the Cluster V environment of Kintamani District, I Ketut Suanda, S.Pd., M.Pd represented the Head of UPT Disdikpora, Kintamani Bangli District. In his remarks, the implementation of this service was greatly appreciated because it was able to increase the knowledge of teachers and students and it was hoped that this could be carried out in a sustainable manner. The implementation of this activity took place face to face, by implementing the Covid-19 prevention protocol. (hms)
