Development of contextual learning-based mathematics teaching modules on rational number materials

Abstract

This research aims to develop a mathematics teaching module on rational number material for grade VII junior high school students that is valid, practical, and effective. This research is motivated by students' limited understanding of rational numbers and by the limitations of teaching materials that fail to connect the material to real-life contexts systematically. The research gap lies in the limited development of contextual modules that not only focus on validity and practicality but also comprehensively test effectiveness through statistical analysis. The novelty of this research lies in the development of a teaching module that integrates real-life contexts into each learning component in a structured manner and is equipped with an effectiveness analysis using statistical tests and N-Gain. The method used is research and development (R&D) with a 4D model, which includes the define, design, develop, and disseminate stages. The research subjects consisted of expert validators, teachers, and 23 grade VII junior high school students. The results of the study showed that the teaching module had an eligibility level of 76% (material experts) and 80% (media experts) with the feasible category, a practicality level of 90% (teachers) and 77.78% (students) with the very practical and practical category, and effectively improved student learning outcomes with an N-Gain value of 0.47 (medium category). Thus, this context-based teaching module is suitable as an alternative teaching material to improve students' understanding of rational numbers.