Pre-service elementary teachers: Analysis of the disposition of mathematical modeling in ethno mathematics learning

Abstract

Cultural disappearance in the social order is one of the concerns in Indonesia nowadays, one of which is Sundanese culture. In addition, the crash of globalization also requires people to be inspired by learning many aspects away from their own culture. This paper aims at increasing the position of ethno mathematics learning in attractive the disposition modeling of mathematics while maintaining the traditional culture. This quantitative study applied the Rasch Wins Step Model to survey 90 elementary pre-service elementary teachers education students as the respondents in which they were grouped based on educational background, namely science or non-science, and Sundanese language ability background, and by Sundanese and non-Sundanese language, based on educational background, 59 respondents were the students of natural science class, and 31 respondents were not the students of natural science class and consisting of 42 Sundanese respondents and 48 non-Sundanese respondents. The data were gathered by means of questionnaires regarding mathematics modeling disposition. The consequences exposed that most students decided to increase mathematics modeling disposition with ethno mathematics learning because student curiosity increases the understanding of Sundanese culture in learning mathematics. The more ordinary science and Sundanese origin support ethno mathematics learning compared to non-science and non-Sundanese mathematics modeling disposition. Mathematical modeling activities will be more meaningful for students if they use culture.