The Influence of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) Approach on Students' Mathematical Problem Solving Ability

In this research, the researchers compared mathematical problem solving ability between the students who were taught using Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) and those who were taught using conventional approach, according to their self-regulated learning. This is quasy-experimental research. The population of the research was the students at fourth grade SDN Gugus 1st Batang Gasan. Samples were taken by simple random sampling technique with fourth grade SDN 13 Batang Gasan as control class and fourth grade SDN 17 Batang Gasan as experiment class. The data were collected through questionnaires and test. The results showed that: 1) the students' mathematical problem solving ability was higher when they were taught using RME than when the students were taught using conventional approach, irrespective of their self-regulated learning, 2) there is no interaction between RME and students' self-regulated learning on problem solving ability. In the end, it can be concluded that the RME approach contributed to the improvement of students' mathematical problem solving ability.