First-grade junior high school students' mathematical connection ability

Abstract

Mathematical connection is an important aspect of learning mathematics. With mathematical connection, learning mathematics will be easier and meaningful because mathematics is structured and interconnected knowledge. This study aimed to describe students' mathematical connection ability. The subject of this study was 26 first-grade junior high school students. The instruments used in this study were connection ability test and interview guideline. The results of the study showed that only one-third of 26 students fulfilled the mathematical concepts connection indicators. The results also revealed that no student satisfied the indicators of mathematical connection to real life and mathematical connection to other disciplines. These findings provide information that students' mathematical connection ability is still relatively low. Therefore more attention is needed to increase students' mathematical connection ability because when the students have good connection ability, they will be able to understand concepts and improve their understanding of other sciences by connecting mathematical concepts with other concepts.