Publication Search

This study aims to describe the planning, implementation, and assessment of differentiated instruction in teaching descriptive text writing to ninth-grade students at SMP Negeri 2 Bendo, Magetan Regency. The study was conducted in response to students difficulties in generating ideas, selecting appropriate vocabulary, organizing ideas coherently, and producing vivid descriptive texts. This research employed a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through lesson plan observation, classroom observation, teacher interviews, and documentation of student learning products. The findings indicate that differentiated instruction was planned through a Merdeka Curriculum-based teaching module, diagnostic assessment, contextual material selection, and the use of PowerPoint, observation sheets, and tiered student worksheets. The implementation emphasized process and learning-environment differentiation through triggering questions, direct observation of real objects around the school, group work, individual scaffolding, immediate feedback, and reflection. Assessment was carried out continuously through diagnostic, formative, and summative assessment. Differentiated instruction helped students generate concrete ideas, organize their writing more systematically, increase motivation, and strengthen descriptive text writing skills. These findings affirm that differentiated instruction can serve as an adaptive strategy in Indonesian language learning at junior high school level.

Many students still face difficulties in understanding statistics because inaccurate preconceptions often develop into misconceptions. This condition is important to study since misconceptions can hinder the mathematics learning process and reduce the quality of students’ conceptual understanding. This study aims to analyze in depth how preconceptions affect the emergence of misconceptions among senior high school students in learning statistics. The research employed a qualitative descriptive method with a case study approach, involving three tenth-grade students from State Senior High School 1 Purwosari who were selected through purposive sampling based on high, medium, and low achievement categories. Data were collected through diagnostic tests in the form of essay questions to reveal students’ preconceptions and in-depth interviews to explore their reasoning, then analyzed descriptively. The findings show that students with accurate preconceptions did not experience misconceptions, students with partially correct preconceptions developed classificational, theoretical, and correlational misconceptions, while students with incorrect preconceptions experienced more complex misconceptions, such as considering the median as the largest value and failing to relate changes in data to the properties of the mean, median, and mode. The study concludes that inaccurate preconceptions directly contribute to the emergence of various forms of misconceptions. The implication is that teachers need to detect, identify, and correct students’ preconceptions from the beginning of the learning process so that misconceptions can be minimized and students’ understanding of statistics can develop more comprehensively.

Dyscalculia is a difficulty in learning mathematics that is commonly experienced by elementary school students, especially in multiplication materials. Students with dyscalculia experience obstacles in understanding the concept of numbers and calculation operations, which has an impact on low learning outcomes and students' confidence in mathematics learning. This study aims to describe the difficulties of learning multiplication in dyscalculia students in grade III of MI Nurul Falah 3, as well as identify learning efforts that can help overcome these difficulties. This study used a qualitative approach with a case study design on two students who were identified as having dyscalculia. Data collection techniques include observation, diagnostic assessment, interviews with students and teachers, and analysis of learning outcomes. The results showed that students had difficulty recognizing number symbols, often flipped numbers, and were not able to complete simple multiplication independently. Concrete learning using the "Multiplication Smart Wallet" media has been proven to help students understand the concept of multiplication, increase learning motivation, and reduce anxiety about mathematics. Thus, the use of concrete media is considered effective in supporting more inclusive mathematics learning for dyscalculia students.

This study aims to describe the difficulties faced by Geography teachers at SMAN 1 Sunggal in identifying students' learning potential and interests during the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum. The research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with primary data consisting of in-depth interviews and non-participant observation of two experienced Geography teachers. The research findings indicate that teachers face major constraints, including limited time for formal diagnostic assessments, a lack of practical training on diagnostic assessments, a large number of students making individual observation difficult, and the absence of adequate assessment instruments. The teacher's efforts to overcome these difficulties include a personal approach to students, behavioral observation, and varied teaching methods, although these are not yet optimal in supporting differentiated learning. This research provides important recommendations for the development of teacher training and school policies to more effectively support the assessment of student potential and interests within the context of the Merdeka Curriculum.

This study aims to identify various aspects that pose obstacles or difficulties for students in learning Mechanics. This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach that focuses on describing the types of difficulties students encounter in solving mechanics problems. The research subjects were first-semester students of the Science Education Study Program at KH. Mukhtar Syafaat University (UIMSYA) Blokagung Banyuwangi who were taking Basic Physics courses on Mechanics material. Data collection was carried out through diagnostic tests and interviews with students. The instruments used were diagnostic tests and interview guidelines. The location of students' learning difficultdiies was analyzed based on the errors that appeared in the completion of the diagnostic test. The results showed that the main difficulty students had in learning mechanics was in mastering basic mathematical skills, particularly in differential and integral material. Therefore, lecturers or teachers need to design and develop more appropriate learning strategies so that students' problem-solving skills can improve.

This study aims to describe students' critical thinking skills in solving social arithmetic problems based on the Polya stages and FRISCO indicators. The research subjects consisted of three students in grade VIII R-5 MTs Nurul Jadid who were purposively selected to represent the high, medium, and low ability categories out of a total of 21 students. The research method used was a descriptive qualitative approach with instruments in the form of two social arithmetic description questions and semi-structured interview guidelines. Data analysis was carried out by referring to the four stages of problem solving according to Polya (understanding the problem, planning the solution, executing the plan, and re-examination) as well as the six FRISCO critical thinking indicators (Focus, Reason, Inference, Situation, Clarity, Overview). The results of the study showed that students with high abilities were able to solve problems systematically through all stages of Polya and met almost all FRISCO indicators, especially in the aspects of Focus, Reason, and Clarity. Students with moderate ability show sufficient understanding but are inconsistent in planning and implementing solutions, and experience difficulties in the Reason, Situation, and Overview indicators. Students with low abilities experience obstacles from the early stages of understanding problems and do not show significant indicators of critical thinking. These findings indicate that the Polya stage and the FRISCO indicator can be used in a complementary manner to identify and analyze students' critical thinking skills in solving contextual math problems. The implication of this study is the need for a learning strategy that emphasizes strengthening the stages of problem solving and developing explicit critical thinking indicators in the mathematics learning process. This research also opens up opportunities for the development of more structured diagnostic instruments in measuring students' individual critical thinking skills.

This study aims to analyze the types of student learning difficulties in solving mixed arithmetic operations based on the Newman Error Analysis (NEA) approach. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with literature study techniques on national scientific articles published between 2020 and 2025. The data were analyzed based on five categories of errors according to NEA, namely reading errors, comprehension errors, transformation errors, process skill errors, and coding errors. The results showed that students experienced all types of errors, with transformation and process skill errors as the most dominant types. Factors causing the errors include weak mathematical literacy, lack of understanding of basic concepts, low motivation to learn, and limited contextual and interactive learning strategies. The findings recommend the need for the use of NEA-based diagnostic approaches in mathematics learning as well as the integration of visual learning media to strengthen students' understanding of the concept of mixed arithmetic operations.

This study aims to identify the difficulties faced by tenth-grade students in understanding enumeration rules and to find effective learning solutions. The research method used was descriptive qualitative, with 33 tenth-grade students of SMA Negeri 1 Percut Sei Tuan as subjects. The instruments used included a diagnostic test in the form of National Examination questions 7-11 on permutations and combinations, interviews with mathematics teachers, and classroom observations. The results showed that the majority of students (50%) were in the moderate understanding category, understanding the basic concepts but frequently making procedural errors. Thirty percent of students were in the low understanding category, having difficulty distinguishing between addition and multiplication rules and applying the concepts to word problems. The main obstacles identified included a lack of mastery of basic concepts, difficulty determining solution steps, a lack of varied practice questions, and limited interactive learning media. Recommended solutions include the use of visual media such as tree diagrams and tables, a contextual approach to everyday life problems, collaborative learning, and the provision of additional tutoring.

This study aims to describe and reveal data about the diagnostic approach in assessing learning difficulties in junior high school students. This research uses a qualitative research approach with a library research approach obtained from books, literature, articles, journals, and sites on the internet that are related to the research conducted. The results showed that the diagnostic approach has proven effective in identifying and dealing with learning difficulties of junior high school students. The form of learning difficulties in junior high school students is related to changes in their cognitive and emotional development. the form of difficulty that is often found is difficulty in exact lessons (Mathematics and Science). The causes of students having difficulty learning science are interest, motivation, concentration, learning habits and intelligence. To find out learning difficulties, teachers can conduct learning diagnostics through: first, student identification. second, conduct a diagnosis test with the most consecutive instruments using observation guides, written tests, interview guides and questionnaires and can conduct diagnostic investigations of learning difficulties by observation, interviews (interviews), diagnosis tests (including giving instructions, conducting tests, assessing test results, following up by adding remedial programs). third, provide assistance with tutoring.