Make Mathematics Fun, Not Just a Difficult Subject That Must Be Passed

PALEMBANG, SUMATERAEKSPRES.ID – March 14 (Pi Day) is celebrated exactly as International Day of Mathematics (IDM) or Mathematics Day International in 2024. Supporting Sriwijaya University ( Unsri ) towards becoming a World Class University, Faculty Teacher Training and Education Sciences ( FKIP) Mathematics Education Doctoral Study Program commemorate Mathematics Day Fifth international.​

Activities take place hybrid, online and offline centered at the FKIP Unsri Palembang Building. Hundreds of Doctoral, Masters and Undergraduate Mathematics Study Program students took part on February 24-March 9 2024. The Dean of FKIP Unsri, Dr. Hartono, MA said that Mathematics Day was very important to celebrate. Because socially, everyday life requires mathematics from an application aspect. “So mathematics is not just a subject that must be passed. But how can we face the real world with mathematics,” he said.

How to respond to Mathematics Day by disseminating the concept so that more Indonesians enjoy Mathematics. “This year the International Mathematics Day at FKIP Unsri was more successful. I saw a map that celebrates only 2 in Indonesia, namely Unsri and Padang State University (UNP). “So UNESCO has made a map of who is celebrating Mathematics Day,” he said.

In celebration of International Mathematics Day, the party invited international keynote speakers including A/prof Wanty Widjaja, M.Ed., Ph.D. from Deakin University of Australia and A/prof Abdul Halim Abdullah, M.Sc., Ph.D. from University Technology Malaysia (UTM). The IDM commemoration also coincides with the 8th Anniversary of the Unsri Mathematics Doctoral or S3 Study Program on March 10.

“We want to do mathematics fun, friendly, not become Scourge, ensure the estuary PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) scores or at our national UNBK increasingly Good for the future. “Aligned with government programs, equal distribution of quality education programs through UNBK,” said the Dean.

Doctoral Study Program Mathematics Unsri Alone Already standing 8 years. Becoming the first and only doctoral program at FKIP Unsri. Has produced 19 doctors in mathematics education. Until June 2024, the Unsri Mathematics Doctoral Study Program is waiting for the results of the international accreditation certification process. ASIIN.

“We want to take part in a national and international way. That’s something our ideals . We also continue to improve the performance of journal publications and international research collaborations. “This includes collaboration with Utrecht University from the Netherlands, the University of Brunei and this year also, God willing, with Daikin University Australia,” he explained.

The publication has also been indexed by Scopus for the Journal of Mathematics Education (JME) and the Journal of Mathematics Education (JPM) has been indexed by Sinta II. These two journals are pioneers for other journals to improve further. Head of the Unsri Mathematics Education Doctoral Study Program, Prof. Dr. Zulkardi, MIKomp, M.Sc, said that the theme of this year’s IDM was “Playing with Mathematics”.

Prof. Wanty Widjaja, M.Ed., Ph.D, from Deakin University of Australia revealed how teachers use mathematical thinking with problem solving to make learning mathematics more enjoyable. “I think the opportunity for Indonesian education to advance is quite high, like Mr. Zulkardi’s program, the mathematics literacy contest is quite innovative. “It’s just that in terms of achievement there needs to be a lot of room for improvement, just like in Australia,” she said.

According to her, exchanging ideas with academics from other countries will open up many insights and enthusiasm to become better. “My hope is that teachers and lecturers can change negative perceptions about mathematics and strengthen the approach to Indonesian Realistic Mathematics education (PMRI), which has been developed in the local context for more than 20 years,” she concluded.

Source: Sumatra Express