Improving student’s understanding of mathematics through ethnomathematics

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of ethnomathematics and cognitive style on the ability of understanding mathematics. This research is quasi-experiment with the sample of Class X Student of SMA N 4 Rejang Lebong. The instrument of this research is a test of mathematical understanding ability. The result of this research is the linear influence of students’ cognitive style as covariate toward the ability of understanding mathematics; The students’ understanding of math ability taught by a contextual learning is higher than that of students conventionally taught after controlling the student’s cognitive style. The ability of mathematical understanding of students who are learning oriented ethnomathematics higher than students who learn is not ethnomathematical oriented after controlling the cognitive style of students.