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On Saturday, April 26, 2025, a National Webinar was successfully held with the theme “Strengthening Mathematical Thinking Competence to Improve Students’ Academic Achievement”. This activity was part of a Community Service sub-program titled “Optimizing Students’ Potential and Enhancing Teachers’ Competence in Preparing for High School Mathematics Olympiad”. The event was organized by seven third-semester graduate students of Mathematics Education: Cut Nadia Rachmi, Hanifa Dina, Muhammad Rizky Syaputra, Nadyati Putri, Santy Bulubaan, Tsania Rahmatin, and Yunia Jumita Ningrum. Conducted via Zoom Meeting, the webinar attracted high enthusiasm from mathematics teachers across Indonesia, with 615 registered participants.
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The webinar featured two distinguished speakers in the field of mathematics education. The first speaker, Prof. Al Jupri, S.Pd., M.Sc., Ph.D., delivered a presentation titled “Mathematical Thinking: Theories and Practical Implementation”. He elaborated on the five core competencies of mathematical thinking: understanding, problem-solving, communication, reasoning, and mathematical connections. He emphasized the use of visual strategies, such as sketching and extreme scenarios, to facilitate the understanding and resolution of word problems. This presentation offered participants a deep insight into the importance of mastering mathematical thinking for effective teaching.
The second speaker, Dr. H. Kusnandi, M.Si., presented on “Inductive Mathematical Thinking”, highlighting how students can be encouraged to observe patterns and form generalizations. Using triangular numbers as an example, he illustrated the process of developing conjectures through observation of concrete facts. This inductive learning method not only brings students closer to mathematical concepts but also sharpens their analytical and reflective thinking skills in problem-solving.
The event was opened by remarks from the Committee Chair, who emphasized the goal of enhancing teachers’ capacity to teach mathematical thinking, with the hope that it could be practically implemented in classrooms. Meanwhile, the Head of the Study Program stated that this webinar was part of the university’s commitment to its three pillars—education, research, and community service—and hoped it would inspire more meaningful and quality mathematics learning practices.
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Throughout the webinar, participant engagement was very active. In addition to direct Q&A sessions, the committee also utilized the Slido app for question collection, enriching the discussions further. Evaluation results showed very positive feedback, with an average satisfaction score above 4.6 out of 5. Participants praised the clarity and depth of the presentations, as well as the practical and inspiring teaching approaches. Some participants expressed their appreciation, noting the impressive visual methods presented by Prof. Al Jupri and the motivational religious touches shared by Dr. Kusnandi.
This webinar has significantly contributed to equipping teachers with more reflective and contextual teaching approaches. The theoretical and practical understanding of mathematical thinking is expected to enhance students’ academic performance through more effective, analytical, and creative learning strategies. The event marks a concrete step in advancing mathematics education in Indonesia, with many participants expressing hope for similar webinars to be held regularly for continuous professional development.