Mathematics Learning Problems from Students

By : Naufal Ishartono

“Mathematics”, what your first impression when you heard this word? Number? Formula? Calculating? Measuring? Estimating? Or maybe frightening? Whatsoever your impression, the last impression is most happened in our society, especially in group of student. Some student feels so anxiety, afraid, even hate to face this science when they are having a class of mathematics or having mathematics examine. Most of them are gripping about how hard to understand the formula, how hard to solve the problems, and how hard to understand the information from their teacher. Because of this stigma, mathematics becomes a bogey for some group of student. So now the question is what’s wrong with this problem?
Actually this problem is as a result of the implementation of behaviorism system in our education in some years ago. The rests of this system still can be felt until right now. Some people still assume that mathematics is hard. Its caused by their experience of mathematics learning process in their school is based on behaviorism system. Punishment is most absolute way to change their behavior when they make a mistake or disobey the rule; most of the punishment is physical punishment. Beside of this case, some teachers are making the atmosphere of mathematics learning process be so appalling by giving a fearful expression in teaching. Psychologically, its makes the student is uncomfortable to receive the information even goes to stress level because they have a fearful feeling when they are learning mathematics. Because of this stigma, public are stereotyping that mathematics is hard and frightening.
Basically the goal of behaviorism is to change the behavior of student after they have an education. Its mean that after the students do learning process, their behavior can be better. Some positive things are the student is more discipline than before and be more respect to the teacher. But the negative effects of this system are appearing the fearful feeling of students; the student will be stiff; teacher centered is implemented in this system, so the initiative and creativity from the students is hindered; and doctrine is justifiable in this learning process, so it makes the critical thinking of students be hindered. So explicitly, behaviorism system is not relevant anymore in this democracy era. An era when every people have a right to express their mind and freedom to show their critical thinking especially for the students because in this system, the student’s logical/critical thinking is pressed by the teacher’s doctrine.
So the next mathematics teacher brings a big burden to erase the bad stigma of mathematics. Its can be done by:
1. Don’t be a monotone teacher, the teacher can use electronically media as a way to send the information to students (be innovative teacher).
2. If the student makes mistakes, the teacher must give an educative penalization and don’t use a mathematics components and physical punishment as a media to penalize the students.
3. Make the atmosphere of mathematics learning process be comfortable by understanding the characteristic and psychology of the students.
4. Make a friendly face (keep smile) and a good communication to make the situation of mathematics learning process is comfortable.
5. Change the system from teacher centered to be student centered, because it can increase the creativity, independence, and knowledge of student.