APPLICATION OF PROBLEM BASED LEARNING MODEL TO IMPROVE THE MATHEMATICAL CREATIVE THINKING ABILITY OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

The problem of this research was the low student’s creative thinking abilities. This research aimed to improve students’ creative thinking ability by applying problem based learning model. Problems were identified based on initial observation result that consist of preliminary and interview test with mathematics teacher for grade VII-3 in SMP N 1 Rantau Selatan. Initial ability test was done to know creative thinking ability and references to grouping students in problem based learning that will be done next. This research was Class Action Research (CAR), which is implemented in SMP N 1 Rantau Selatan. The subject in this research were the students of grade VII-3 academic year 2014/2015 that consists of 39 students. The objects of this research were the students’ creative thinking ability which measured by four indicators, namely fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration, and problem based learning model. The level of problem solving capabilities planned in this research was ≥ 80% of the total students that followed the test. This research consisted of 2 cycles and from the first cycle consists of 2 meetings and the second cycle consists of 2 meetings. Student’s creative thinking ability test was conducted at the end of each cycle. The results of this research could be seen : (1) The student’s creative thinking ability test in cycle 1, completed by 22 students and not completed by 17 students, classical completeness was 56,41 %. (2) The student’s creative thinking ability test in cycle 2, completed by 34 students and not completed by only 5 students, classical completeness was 87,18%.