Disclosure Causes of Students Error in Resolving Discrete Mathematics Problems Based on NEA as A Means of Enhancing Creativity

Abstract

<p>This article is based on research cooperation of Foreign Affairs in the first year, which was<br />carried out between the team of lecturers from the Department of Mathematics Education<br />Unnes (Indonesia) with Dr. Chin Kin Eng, a lecture of Mathematics Education from Universiti<br />Malaysia Sabah. The main objective of this research in the first year is to uncover the cause of<br />the students error in resolving Discrete Mathematics by Newman Errors Analysis (NEA). The<br />Results of this research will be used as the basis for the subsequent research that reveal the<br />mathematical creativity of the students. Outcomes of this research is the publication of research<br />results in the International Journal and seminar at the international level. As a qualitative<br />research, data collection through an analysis of the results of tests, questionnaires, observations,<br />and interviews. Data analysis are data reduction, exposure of data, synthesising the data,<br />triangulation, and the inference/verification. According to research, known that students errors<br />in resolving discrete mathematics caused by: (1) the student did not know the meaning of a<br />symbol or an existing term in the problem (Reading Errors), (2) the student did not understand<br />the meaning of the problem, namely the student fails to write what is known and what is being<br />asked (Comprehension Errors), (3) students forgot a formula that will be used or<br />strategy/procedure what to do (Transformation Errors), (4) students could not make the<br />problem-solving algorithms in sequence and correctly (Process Skills Errors), (5) the student<br />could not answer according to the question (Encoding Errors), and (6) the student could not<br />translate well, especially about which was written in English (Language Errors). Errors caused<br />by carelessness students (Careless Errors) was not found. After giving Learning Therapy for<br />the provision to resolve a problem through the algorithm and the correct sequence, the causes<br />of the error of some students could be minimized, so that the number of students who were<br />experiencing errors could also be reduced. Results of this research became the basis for<br />continued research in the second year, which will be revealed and developed the mathematical<br />creativity of students with prepare advanced research instruments.</p>