THE EFFECT OF THE PROBLEM BASED LEARNING MODEL ON THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS AMONG JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

The process of learning mathematics in schools requires the support of the students in pursuing their learning. Mathematics teaches concepts systematically from simple to complex. The aim of study is to (1) determine the influence of the learning model on student’s ability to understand mathematical concepts, (2) determine the difference between students who use the problem based learning model and students using the conventional learning model. This type research is an experimental study with the entire population of students of the 8^th grade of La Tansa High School. The sample of the research uses to classes VIII-F as the experimental class and VIII-G as the control class. Data collection techniques using observation and testing. The data analysis technique used were simple linear regression tests and independent sample t-tests. The research results indicate that (1) there is an influence of the Problem Based Learning model the ability of students to understand mathematical concept, (2) there is a difference between students who used the problem based learning model and students who were using the conventional learning model. The test result using a simple linear regression test with a significance level of 0,05 show a Sig. value of 0,004 < 0,05 meaning H₀ is rejected and H₁ is accepted. The result of the testing using the independent sample t-test show a Sig. value of 0,026 < 0,05, which also means H₀ is rejected and H₁ is accepted