Enhancing Mathematical Creative Thinking Ability: Experimentation With Realistic Mathematics Education by Embedding Ice Breaking in Junior High School

The effectiveness of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) in improving students' mathematical abilities has been examined through various research. Meanwhile, the use of ice-breaking (Ib), considered by experts and educational researchers as a highly beneficial tactic for improving learning effectiveness, had yet to be fully explored in the context of integration with RME. The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Ib-RME (RME integrating Ib) in enhancing students' mathematical creative thinking abilities (MCTA) at SMPN 14 Tarakan, Indonesia. Involving 64 seventh-grade students in a quasi-experimental design, the experimental group adopted the Ib-RME approach. In contrast, the control group followed the conventional teaching method employed by mathematics teachers in the class, including ice-breaking activities as normally implemented in the classroom setting. Data analysis using t-tests revealed a significant improvement in MCTA in the Ib-RME group, confirming the effectiveness of this approach. The research noted that conventional teaching also enhanced MCTA, although to a lesser extent than Ib-RME. These findings contributed to understanding the potential integration between RME and Ib in improving Mathematics learning outcomes, particularly in developing MCTA. The implications could serve as a basis for the development of innovative and effective teaching approaches in the mathematics education.