Design research on calculus: Students' journey in learning definition of definite integral

Abstract

Some researchers report that students find difficulties in learning definition of definite integration. Therefore, classroom activities designed with design research method to help university students gain better understanding on this topic. In order to support students, realistic mathematics approach was chosen. Series of instructional activities had been designed to reach mathematical goal. Thirty of first year university students in Universitas Negeri Padang were chosen to implement the classroom activities that have been designed. This paper will report students' journey in learning definition of definite integral in our local instructional theory (LIT). The research shows that students understanding about area, function, inscribed/circumscribed polygon, limit play important role to understand the definition of definite integral. Students need to see those concepts as a unit which cannot be separated to understand the definition of definite integral in a designed classroom activity.