Implementation of a STEAM-Ethnomathematics Learning Management System with Problem-Based Learning to Enhance Students' Mathematical Representation Ability in Linear Equation Systems

Abstract

Mathematical representation ability is one of the essential competencies that students need to develop in mathematics learning because it enables them to express mathematical ideas through visual, symbolic, and verbal forms. However, many junior high school students still experience difficulties in representing mathematical concepts, particularly in solving problems related to Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables (SLETV). This study aimed to develop and implement a Learning Management System (LMS) integrated with the STEAM approach, ethnomathematics, and the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model to improve students' mathematical representation ability. The research adopted the ADDIE development model consisting of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation stages. The developed LMS was implemented using a one-group pretest-posttest design involving 32 eighth-grade students at SMP Negeri 2 Ungaran in the 2025/2026 academic year. Data was collected through expert validation sheets, mathematical representation tests, observations, and documentation. The findings indicated that the developed LMS achieved a very high level of validity based on expert evaluations. Furthermore, students' mathematical representation ability improved significantly after the implementation of the LMS. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test revealed a significant difference between pretest and posttest scores (p < 0.05), while the average normalized gain score reached 0.75, indicating a high improvement category. These findings demonstrate that integrating STEAM, ethnomathematics, and Problem-Based Learning into an LMS provides an effective learning environment for enhancing students' mathematical representation ability in learning Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables.