Investigation of student’s obstruction on mathematical communication and the solution through self-correction

Abstract

Abstract There are numerous students who experienced difficulties in communicating spatial geometry concept in solving the problems. The ideas in explaining spatial geometry problems solving is not communicatively expressed. This study aims to investigate the obstruction of the students in communicating spatial geometry concept and find the solutions. According to the epistemological barrier, the obstruction of the mathematical communication in the student may be caused by errors experience in applying concepts, inaccuracies in completing settlement strategies, and errors in interpreting results to draw conclusions. To overcome the problems in mathematical communication, some solutions can be generated by buildup self-correction in planning, processing and concluding of the solving problems activities. Subjects with high mathematical communication obstruction can be overcome by training the ability to (1) express ideas completely, (2) draw conclusions based on similar patterns by comparing, and (3) increase accuracy in carrying out calculations through understanding the application of concepts to solve the problem. Whereas subjects with low Mathematical Communication barriers can be overcome by getting used to focusing more on the relationship between concepts in implementing the solution strategy.