Realistic Mathematics Education Principles for Designing a Learning Sequence on Number Patterns

Abstract

The number pattern is one of mathematics topics taught for junior high school students that relate between arithmetic and algebra domain. This topic bridges arithmetical and algebraic thinking. Therefore, the learning for this topic should be designed meaningfully. This research aims to design a learning sequence on the number patterns using principles of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME). To do this, we used design research method, particularly the preliminary design phase, with the following three steps. First, literature study was conducted to collect student difficulties in the learning of number patterns, relevant studies, and the theory of RME. Second, we observed Indonesian mathematics textbooks addressing the number patterns to see a learning sequence for this topic. Finally, we designed a learning sequence for the number patterns using the RME principles, particularly the reality principle, level principle, and intertwinement principle. The result of this research includes the learning sequence for the number patterns according to the RME principles, which consists of three activities: relationship between patterns and numbers; exploration of numbers; and generalization of number patterns. We conclude that the three principles of RME are fruitful for designing a meaningful learning sequence for the topic of number patterns.