Implementation of Mathematica-Assisted Learning to Improve Understanding and Problem-Solving Skills for Prospective Teachers

Abstract

Problem-Solving skills is one of the four main competencies that children must prepare and possess to survive and succeed in facing the 21st century. This ability is not innate, so it can be taught and improved by being encouraged by practice. To be able to solve a problem, one must have a deep understanding. Therefore, in learning, the ability to understand is a part of which the goals are increasingly being paid attention to for all students in each subject or course. Mathematica software is a form of information and communication technology tools that can support the mathematics learning process. This study's objectives are 1) to determine the average level of improvement in students' understanding skills by learning tutorial model assisted by Mathematica software; 2) knowing the magnitude of the increase in student problem-solving abilities by learning tutorial models assisted by Mathematica software. This research is a quantitative study using the one-group pretest-posttest design method. The population in this study were students of STKIP Surya who took the Calculus course. With a large sample of 30 people. Sampling was done using purposive sampling. And the instrument used is a test. The results of the data analysis above show that there is an increase in students' understanding and solving abilities after learning using Mathematica Software. The amount of increase in students' mathematical understanding skills in the high category. Likewise, the increase in mathematical problem-solving skills in the high category. This shows that Mathematica software can be used to improve student understanding and problem-solving skills.

Keywords- Mathematica, mathematical understanding, problem-solving skills.