Developing and improving higher-order thinking skills is one of the main goals of learning in the 21st century. Thinking skills are meant to include problem-solving skills, creative thinking skills, critical thinking skills, argumentative skills, and decision-making abilities.
Mathematics is a means to improve higher-order thinking skills. Practicing solving non-routine math problems where a person is faced with a new problem that has never been solved before can improve high-level thinking skills, because with new problems, problem-solving strategies are needed.
Facing the learning needs of the 21st century, the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya (UB) provides its active role by holding Community Service activities with the topic “Strengthening Strategies for Solving Non-Routine Mathematics Problems”.
This activity aims to improve the competence of high school Mathematics teachers in Banyuwangi Regency in solving non-routine math problems. This activity was held at SMAN 1 Srono, Banyuwangi Regency, Thursday (13/07/2023).
The activity was initiated by a lecturer from the Department of Mathematics Dr. Darmajid, S.Si., M.Si and supported by four other lecturers, namely Dr. Vira Hari Krisnawati, S.Si., M.Sc., Dr. Noor Hidayat, M.Si., Dra. Ari Andari, M.Sc., and Dwi Mifta Mahanani, S.Sc., M.Sc.
“We are trying to make a real contribution in improving the ability to think highly of teachers and students through strengthening strategies for solving non-routine math problems,” said Darmajid.
This community service was attended by 30 Mathematics teachers from various high schools in Banyuwangi Regency. In the beginning, the training participants were given material and examples of math problem solving strategies and then given new math problems that could be solved using the previous strategy.
As an indicator of the success of this activity, the participants were given a pretest to measure their abilities before the training was carried out. Then, at the end of the activity, a posttest was carried out to measure the increase in ability after the training was held. The evaluation results showed a very significant increase in the participants’ ability to solve non-routine math problems.
“We are very happy to see the enthusiasm of high school mathematics teachers in participating in this activity. By increasing the ability to solve non-routine math problems, UB Mathematics Department hopes that mathematics subjects at school are easier to understand and high school students have the provision to prepare themselves to take part in National and International Science Olympiads in mathematics,” said Darmajid.
In addition to provide benefits for Mathematics teachers, this Community Service activity also aims to introduce UB Mathematics Department more broadly to the community, especially high school teachers and students in Banyuwangi Regency, so that it is hoped that in the future UB Mathematics Department can be better known and in demand as an educational destination for students interested in Mathematics. [Dar/Irene/ UB PR/ Trans. Iir]
