UPPER ELEMENTARY GRADES STUDENTS’ ALGEBRAIC THINKING ABILITY IN INDONESIA

Abstract

This research comes from an idea that algebraic thinking is one of the important things in learning mathematics for elementary school students. Algebraic thinking ability is a transition process from arithmetic learning to algebraic learning. Students in elementary school must have this ability as prerequisite for advanced mathematics (junior high school). Besides that, the Algebraic Thinking ability required students in solving mathematical problems. The main purpose of this research is to describe students' algebraic thinking ability based on algebraic thinking characteristics, knowing the learning trajectory of learning barriers to overcome these obstacles. Therefore, conducted a research using descriptive research method. Data collection using test, interview and questionnaire techniques to students in upper grades of elementary school which located in urban areas, mid areas, also transitional region. Based on the analysis of the results of algebraic thinking ability instrument test from 78 students, comparing with the indicators of algebraic thinking in upper grades of elementary school in Indonesia, it shows that algebraic thinking skills of upper elementary grades in Indonesia are classified as less good. In addition, researchers classify the barriers of algebraic thinking into three types, ontogenic obstacle, didactic obstacle, and epistemological obstacle, therefore with the data generated a learning trajectory to overcome the obstacle of algebraic thinking. Learning trajectory as a result of this study will be developed as algebraic thinking design learning.