Lamongan – Another proud achievement was made by lecturers of the Elementary School Teacher Education Study Program (PGSD) of the Muhammadiyah University of Lamongan (Umla).

The research team led by Humairah MPd together with Oriza Zativalen MPd, Rizka Novi Irmaningrum MPd, and Dr. Syaiputra Wahyuda Musa Diningrat MPd from the State University of Surabaya (Unesa) successfully passed the selection for the Directorate of Research, Technology, and Community Service (DRTPM) grant of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, Technology and Technology in 2025, for the Regular Fundamental Research scheme.

This team carries a very relevant and innovative topic entitled "Ethno-Treffinger Model based on Realistic Mathematic Education (RME) to Improve Numeracy, Critical Thinking, and Creative Skills in Elementary Schools".

This research was designed as an effort to answer the challenges of learning mathematics which has so far been considered abstract and difficult by students at the elementary school level.

According to the team leader, Humairah MPd, the Etno-Treffinger model is a combination of the Treffinger approach that emphasizes the development of creative thinking skills with an ethnomathematics approach that utilizes local wisdom as a learning context.

This model is then packaged in the RME framework, a mathematics education approach that is oriented towards students' real experiences.

"Through this model, students not only learn to count, but also understand the values ​​and culture around them. For example, they learn the concept of fractions or geometry through batik traditions, traditional games, or local economic activities that they know," said Humairah.

This research is planned to be carried out in several partner elementary schools in the Lamongan area and its surroundings, involving teachers and upper-class students as research subjects.

Through the stages of model development, limited trials, and refinement, this research is expected to produce learning products that are applicable and in accordance with the local context.

This achievement is also real evidence that Umla continues to encourage its lecturers to be active in national competitive research. This success, while hoping that the results of this study can be one of the references for developing a curriculum or culture-based learning module in elementary schools.

The participation of Dr. Syaiputra Wahyuda Musa Diningrat from Unesa as a collaborator also strengthens the synergy between universities in the development of science and basic education.

With cross-institutional cooperation, it is hoped that this model will not only have a local impact but can also be developed more widely to the national level.

In closing, this achievement is not only an individual achievement, but also part of Umla's contribution in building contextual, humanistic, and Indonesian cultural value-based education. Hopefully the results of this study will provide great benefits for the world of education and the next generation of the nation.

Author: Helmy Choiriyanto