Pre-service elementary teachers: analysis of the disposition of mathematical modeling in ethno mathematics learning

Abstract

Cultural disappearance in the social order is one of the concerns in Indonesia nowadays, one of
which is Sundanese culture. In addition, the crash of globalization also requires people to be inspired by
learning many aspects away from their own culture. This paper aims at increasing the position of ethno
mathematics learning in attractive the disposition modeling of mathematics while maintaining the
traditional culture. This quantitative study applied the Rasch Wins Step Model to survey 90 elementary
pre-service elementary teachers education students as the respondents in which they were grouped
based on educational background, namely science or non-science, and Sundanese language ability
background, and by Sundanese and non-Sundanese language, based on educational background, 59
respondents were the students of natural science class, and 31 respondents were not the students of
natural science class and consisting of 42 Sundanese respondents and 48 non-Sundanese respondents.
The data were gathered by means of questionnaires regarding mathematics modeling disposition. The
consequences exposed that most students decided to increase mathematics modeling disposition with
ethno mathematics learning because student curiosity increases the understanding of Sundanese culture
in learning mathematics. The more ordinary science and Sundanese origin support ethno mathematics
learning compared to non-science and non-Sundanese mathematics modeling disposition. Mathematical
modeling activities will be more meaningful for students if they use culture.