INTEGRATING THE HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS IN DISCOVERY LEARNING ON THE TOPIC OF CIRCLE

Abstract

Abstract

In fact, students see circle as the material which is not important. Circle contains abstract concept (far away from daily life), and contains complicated equations and formulas. This indicates students still do not understand the concepts and the formulas that are used. The implementation of integrating the history of mathematics in learning can help students to improve the response of students toward mathematics itself, and increase understanding of students. Understanding of students toward mathematics is very important because the mathematics is the Queen of the sciences that will support the understanding of other science which relies depend upon it. The objective of this research is describing the effectiveness of circle learning that integrates the history of mathematics. Method of collecting data is test, observation and questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics analysis techniques. This research revealed that the mathematics learning that integrates the history of mathematics; specially in circle learning is effective. Because the interaction between teacher and students,between and amongst students, between class situation with its environment are positive or rich interaction. Its also following by students’ achievement in learning and positive response from students towards their learning. Therefore, teachers are advised to apply the history of mathematics in mathematics learning specially on the topic of circle.

Keywords: history of mathematics, effective learning, interaction, students’ achievement, students’ response, circle, teaching and learning