Integer Ring: An Innovative Approach to Conventional Manipulative-Based Learning Materials to Enhance Understanding of Integer Operations

Abstrak

Teaching integer operations in elementary school often faces challenges due to their abstract nature, while students’ cognitive abilities are still at the concrete operational stage. This study aims to describe the design, development process, expert validation results, and the effectiveness of using a conventional manipulative-based learning medium called the “Integer Ring” in helping fourth-grade elementary school students understand the concepts of integer addition and subtraction. The development of the learning material is based on the principles of manipulative-based learning grounded in Piaget’s cognitive development theory, which posits that elementary school-aged students require tangible objects as a bridge to abstract understanding. The development process involved stages of needs analysis, prototype design, product development, and validation by media experts and subject matter experts. The validation results indicate that the Integer Ring received a “highly valid” rating in terms of pedagogical, physical, and aesthetic aspects. The study results indicate that the Integer Ring media is capable of presenting the concepts of addition and subtraction of integers visually and kinesthetically through the mechanism of adding and removing rings on a rod, including the representation of the zero-pair concept. The novelty of this media lies in the integration of the concept of contrasting colors and the zero-pair mechanism, which has not been found in similar manipulative media previously. This medium has the potential to serve as a practical and economical solution for concrete mathematics learning in elementary schools.

Kata kunci

• elementary school
• integer ring
• manipulative learning media
• mathematical concept understanding