Improving Student's Problem Solving Ability through Problem-Based Learning in Cultural Context

Abstract

This study is aimed to determine whether the improvement of mathematical problem solving abilities of students who received problem-based learning with the cultural context was better than students who received the conventional learning. It was conducted using the semi-experimental research with the research population being all students in SMP Suci Murni. Sample selection was done randomly and selectively. The instrument used was the problem-solving ability teston the material of the two-variable Linear Equation System. Statistical analysis of the data in this study was carried out by t-test analysis. The results showed that: (1) the improvement of mathematical problem solving abilities of students who received problem-based learning with the cultural context was higher than students who received the conventional learning, namely the average N-gain for the experimental class was 0.37 and the control class was 0.26; (2) There was a significant difference between improving students' mathematical problem solving abilities who received problem-based learning with the cultural context and students who received conventional learning, namely with the acquisition of a significance value of 0.004 where the value was