Ethnomathematics

Ethnomathematics is the study of mathematics contextual / cultural. One of the figures is Terezinha Nunes Mathematics Ethnology who studies street math (math streets). She's from Brazil. She studied street mathematics, like how fruit merchant do the calculation in different way with quick techniques.

Ethnomathematics in Indonesia, is still rarely developed because there are few teachers who want to learn and develop it. And it also affects the mindset of teachers in Indonesia. Here, teachers tend to be oriented to the National Exam. Teachers prefer to deepen the lesson on student oriented National Exam not to know what the meaning of the lesson. This thing gives the effect, that at least teachers who want to learn or develop ethnology. Ethnology itself more emphasis on the process or construcivism, as expressed by Piaget and Vygotsky.

Ethnomathematics in Indonesia can be learned through history. History of mathematics in Indonesia itself was also very diverse. Many researchers of the western world are very interested in doing research in Indonesia, particularly in terms of the history of mathematics. This should encourage us to also do research. Suppose a small research. Small research can be hard or soft research. Examples of hard research is the temple. How did ancient people could make that great masterpiece using mathematical calculations, such as the Borobudur and Prambanan temples. Later research may be soft in the Javanese calendar calculations. Javanese people still often use the Javanese calendar calculations to determine when to perform a ritual. For example, determining the day to commemorate the death of someone 100 days.

Hopefully, by studying ethnolomathematics we not only use mathematics for compare or calculating using formulas. But  we can figure out what it is mathematics along with their meanings and can use it in our daily life.