BRAIN GYM MATH DEVELOPMENT BASED ON LOCAL WISDOM USING THE CRA (CONCRETE, REPRESENTATIONAL, ABSTRACT) METHOD TO IMPROVE STUDENTS' CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

Abstract

The background of this research is based on the importance of the readiness of prospective early childhood teachers in developing creative thinking and problem-solving skills through meaningful and contextual mathematics learning. This research aims to develop Brain Gym Math based on local wisdom using the Concrete, Representational, Abstract (CRA) approach in improving the creative problem-solving abilities of early childhood education students. The research method used is Research and Development (R&D) with the Borg & Gall development model that has been adjusted in several main stages: needs analysis, design, product development, limited trials, revisions, and extensive trials. The developed Brain Gym Math media integrates brain gymnastics movements with contextual mathematics activities based on local culture to provide a fun and meaningful learning experience. The results of the study indicate that the use of the CRA method in Brain Gym Math based on local wisdom can significantly improve students' creative problem-solving abilities. This development is expected to be an innovation in mathematics learning in early childhood teacher education as well as an alternative learning media that is adaptive to local values and the needs of the 21st century.