Erika Nora Simamora

Erika Nora Simamora. 081 188 830 003. Inquiry Learning as an Effort to Increase Critical Thinking and Communication Mathematical Junior High School Students. Thesis. Medan: Graduate Program, State University of Medan, 2011.

The study was conducted to improve the ability of critical thinking and mathematical communication students of SMP Negeri 14 Medan. This was an experimental study where the population is all students in grade IX SMP Negeri 14 Medan, which consisted of five classes. Samples were selected at random simple two classes so that the selected class IX (D) to control the class and class IX (E) be a class experiment where each class consists of 40 students. The instruments used in this study namely, tests of critical thinking skills and communication ability test shaped mathematical description of each test consists of 4 questions. The instrument has been tested and found valid and the reliability coefficient of 0.935 and 0.95 respectively for the ability of critical thinking and mathematical communication skills. The test is given twice before (pretest) and after (posttest) of learning. Conclusion of the study: (1) increase students 'critical thinking skills inquiry learning junior who received 0.3974 (39.74%) better than students who received conventional learning 0.274 (27.40%), (2) improving students' mathematical communication skills junior who received inquiry learning 0.3317 (33.17%) better than students who received conventional learning 0.257 (25.70%), (3) the pattern of responses of the students who followed the inquiry learning better than students who received conventional teaching based on value scores obtained by each class. Based on the results of the study suggested: (1) For the mathematics teacher: a) the inquiry learning can be used as an alternative in the learning of mathematics for the delivery of critical thinking and mathematical communication, especially on the subject woke up space curved side; b) The resulting learning can be used as appeal for teachers in developing mathematics learning devices with inquiry learning on the subject of curved side plane geometry; c) Teachers of mathematics are expected to create a joyful learning, allowing students to membeikan language and ideas in their own way, daring to argue that students will more confident and creative in solving problems. So the math is no longer the scourge that is very difficult for students; d) In order for inquiry learning model is more effective application in learning mathematics, teachers should be able to teach well planning and carrying a good learning system (Master Books, Student Books, LKS, RPP , the medium used); e) It is expected that teachers need to add knowledge about the theories of learning and innovative learning model to perform them in the learning of mathematics so that the conventional learning can be consciously abandoned an effort to improve student learning outcomes. 2) To the relevant institutions: a) inquiry learning by emphasizing critical thinking skills and mathematical communication are still very familiar to teachers and students, and therefore need to be socialized by the school or institution associated with the hope to increase students' mathematics learning outcomes, particularly improving the ability to think critically and students 'mathematical communication; b) inquiry learning can be used as an alternative in improving critical thinking skills and students' mathematical communication on the subject woke up space curved sides so it can be used as input for schools to be developed as an effective learning strategy for the other math subjects. 3) To the researchers continued: a) Can be done with continued research inquiry learning in improving critical thinking skills and students' mathematical communication maximally to obtain maximum results; b) Can be done with continued research inquiry learning in enhancing the ability of other math by applying more the implications for these findings can be applied in schools.


Keywords: Learning Inquiry, Critical Thinking, Mathematical Communication.