Profile of Junior High School Students’ Symbol Sense Thinking

Muhamad Badrul Mutammam; Evi Novita Wulandari

doi:10.31764/jtam.v7i2.12622

Profile of Junior High School Students’ Symbol Sense Thinking

Muhamad Badrul Mutammam, Evi Novita Wulandari

Abstract

Algebra is one of the mathematics materials in junior high school which is synonymous with symbols. There is a concept to assess students' sensitivity to symbols, namely symbol sense. One of the skills that must be possessed by students is thinking skills. The purpose of this study is to describe the thinking process of junior high school students from the symbol sense task. This is qualitative research. The steps in this research is (1) making instruments; (2) selecting subjects; (3) collecting data; and (4) analyzing data.The subjects in the study consisted of four ninth-grade students who had good math and communication skills. Data collection was carried out by giving symbols of sense assignments and followed by task-based interviews. The collected data was then analyzed using the stages of data collection, data condensation, data display, and drawing conclusions. The results showed that all subjects showed good thinking skills. It's just that a student is not good at drawing conclusions because he does not check the answers independently. For the ability of the sense of symbol students lack achievement in two characteristics of the symbol sense. Only two people demonstrated the "friendliness with symbol" characteristic well. This research only examines students' symbol sense thinking on two of the six characteristics of symbol sense. Other researchers can conduct research on the six characteristics of sense symbols thinking.

Keywords

Thinking; Symbol Sense; Symbol Sense Thinking; Algebra.

Full Text:

PDF

References

Arcavi, A. (1994). Symbol Sense: Informal Sense-making in Formal Mathematics. For the Learning of Mathematics, 14(3), 24–35.

Arcavi, A. (2005a). Developing and using symbol sense in mathematics. For the Learning of Mathematics, 25(2), 42–47.

Arcavi, A. (2005b). Developing and Using Symbol Sense in Mathematics. For the Learning of Mathematics, 25(2), 42–47.

Azis, A., & Nurlita, M. (2017). Symbol Language in Learning Math in School. International Seminar on Management, Entrepreneurship and Education for Global Competitiveness (ISMEEGC), April 2017, 101–105. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/ut239

Bradbury, A. (2013). Rethinking ‘fixed ability thinking’ and grouping practices: questions, disruptions and barriers to change in primary and early years education. 12.

Butler, M. D., Service, J., & Steen, L. A. (1991). On the Shoulders of Giants: New Approaches to Numeracy. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 86(414), 543. https://doi.org/10.2307/2290607

Chow, T.-C. F. (2011). Science and Mathematics Education Centre Students’ Difficulties, Conceptions and Attitudes Towards Learning Algebra: An Intervention Study to Improve Teaching and Learning. October.

Cottrell, S. (2023). Critical Thinking Skills: Effective Analysis, Argument and Reflection (4th ed.). Bloomsbury.

Douglas, H., Headley, M. G., Hadden, S., & Lefevre, J. A. (2020). Knowledge of mathematical symbols goes beyond numbers. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 6(3), 322–354. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.v6i3.293

Gough, D. (1991). Thinking About Thinking. 7.

Joseph, J. U. (2020). Understanding the Concept of Language of Mathematics for Effective Teaching and Learning of Mathematics in a School System. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Studies, 2(10), 853–860. https://doi.org/10.29103/ijevs.v2i10.3308

Jupri, A., & Sispiyati, R. (2020a). Designing symbol sense tasks: The case of quadratic equations. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1521(3). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1521/3/032069

Jupri, A., & Sispiyati, R. (2020b). Students’ algebraic proficiency from the perspective of symbol sense. Indonesian Journal of Science and Technology, 5(1), 86–94. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijost.v5i1.23102

Jupri, A., & Sispiyati, R. (2021). Symbol sense characteristics for designing mathematics tasks. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1806(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1806/1/012051

Kharde, U. D. (2016). Symbolic Language of Mathematics. 01(1), 2.

Kızıltoprak, A., & Köse, N. Y. (2017). Relational thinking: The bridge between arithmetic and algebra. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 10(1), 131–145. https://doi.org/10.26822/iejee.2017131893

Kop, P. M. G. M., Janssen, F. J. J. M., Drijvers, P. H. M., & Driel, J. H. Van. (2020). The relation between graphing formulas by hand and students ’ symbol sense Content courtesy of Springer Nature , terms of use apply . Rights reserved . Content courtesy of Springer Nature , terms of use apply . Rights reserved . 137–161.

Loc, N. P., Tong, D. H., & Duy, V. K. (2019). Using the information processing theory into teaching mathematics: A case study of “vector” concept. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 8(9), 1612–1616.

Maracchia, S. (2013). The importance of symbolism in the development of algebra. Lettera Matematica, 1(3), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40329-013-0024-y

Mutodi, P., & Mosimege, M. (2021). Learning mathematical symbolization: Conceptual challenges and instructional strategies in secondary schools. Bolema - Mathematics Education Bulletin, 35(70), 1180–1199. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-4415v35n70a29

Nurpratiwi, T. L., & Setianingsih, R. (2021). Students’ Thinking Processes in Solving Open-Ended Problems Using Online Learning Taking into Account the Mathematical Ability. Pi: Mathematics Education Journal, 4(1), 20–30. http://ejournal.unikama.ac.id/index.php/pmej%0A20

Oguguo, O.-S. U. (2020). Insufficient Knowledge of Mathematical Symbols Amongst Trainee Teachers: Strategies For Correcting Them. 6(8). https://doi.org/10.46654/ij.24889849

Pamungkas, L. N., Kusmayadi, T. A., & Fitriana, L. (2021). How Is the Thinking Process of Students in Solving Math Problems Based on the Adversity Quotient in High School? Proceedings of the International Conference of Mathematics and Mathematics Education (I-CMME 2021), 597, 156–162. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211122.022

Rini, A. D. P., Hussen, S., Hidayati, H., & Muttaqien, A. (2021). Symbol Sense of Mathematics Students in Solving Algebra Problems. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1764(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1764/1/012114

Samo, M. A. (2009). Students’ Perceptions about the Symbols, Letters and Signs in Algebra and How Do These Affect Their Learning of Algebra: A Case Study in a Government Girls Secondary School Karachi. International Journal for Mathematics Teaching and Learning, 35. http://search.proquest.com/docview/822504785?accountid=15172%5Cnhttp://sfx.library.yale.edu/sfx_local?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&genre=article&sid=ProQ:ProQ:ericshell&atitle=Students’+Perceptions+about+the+Symbols,+Letter

Sanjaya, A., Johar, R., Ikhsan, M., & Khairi, L. (2018). Students’ thinking process in solving mathematical problems based on the levels of mathematical ability. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1088. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1088/1/012116

Sari, V. T. A. (2019). Students’ Understanding Ability in Solving Algebraic Problems. JEE(Journal of Education Experts, 2(2), 89–96. http://journal.kopertis-4.org/index.php/jee/article/view/53/34

Slavin, R. E. (2018). Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice. In Pearson (12th ed.). Pearson. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0074121

Stoelinga, T., & Lynn, J. (2013). Algebra and the Underprepared Learner. UIC Research on Urban Education Policy Initiative, 2(June), 1–16. https://mcmi.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Algebra-and-Underprepared-Learner.pdf

Sugiarti, L., & Retnawati, H. (2019). Analysis of student difficulties on algebra problem solving in junior high school. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1320(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1320/1/012103

Sunarto, M. . D., & Dewiyani, S. (2009). Karakteristik Proses Berpikir Siswa dalam Mempelajari Matematika Berbasis Tipe Kepribadian. Prosiding Seminar Nasional, Pendidikan Dan Penerapan MIPA, Fakultas MIPA, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, 481–492.

Widodo, S. A., & Turmudi, T. (2017). Guardian Student Thinking Process in Resolving Issues Divergence. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 11(4), 432–438. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v11i4.5639

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31764/jtam.v7i2.12622