RME Approach and Mind Map Methode to Enhance Mathematical Cognition of Elementary School Students

Early mathematics achievement has been found to be important for later mathematical development. Intelligence and other cognitive factors typically explain no more than half of the variability in mathematical variation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of applying a Realistic Mathematics Education approach and mind map method to enhance mathematic cognitive at elementary school students. The participants were recruited from elementary schools in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The constant comparative and grounded theory techniques were used for data analysis. The theoretical contribution of this study is a very detailed diagnosis of increasing at mathematical cognition resulting in a profile rather than in a single score. Practically, this profile enabled efficient intervention that resulted in students’ high mathematical cognition and achievement in students’ learning achievement.