Solving of Polyhedron Problems Based on Spatial Sense of Junior High School Students

Abstract

This study aims to get an overview of the Mental Action, Ways of Thinking (WoT), and Ways of Understanding (WoU) as parts of the process of solving polyhedron problems based on spatial sense. A qualitative approach was applied in this study. Data collection was carried out through several tests to measure students' spatial sense and interviews. The results show that the problem-solving process carried out by students has its uniqueness. One of the mental actions done by students when solving solid geometric problems is to imagine the figure. The formed WoT depends on the mental action taken, one of which is when students imagine the given figure to be interpreted. This then leads to the formation of WoU, which is the decision making regarding the given problem. The mental action is relatively the same in each solution. Meanwhile, the formed WoT varies in solving certain problems. Furthermore, not all students can reach the WoU stage when solving polyhedron problems; only some of them can associate the problems with the mathematical concepts that they have previously had. Inadequate mental action and WoT of the students result in the formation of meaning which leads to less than optimal WoU.