Improving Numeracy Skills for Teachers in South Buru Regency
DOI:
10.29303/ujcs.v7i1.1645Published:
2026-03-31Downloads
Abstract
This community service activity aims to improve the numeracy skills of teachers in South Buru Regency through Community-Based Research (CBR) training. This approach places teachers as partners who are actively involved in the entire activity process, from the planning stage, implementation, to program evaluation. The activity was attended by 80 teachers from elementary and junior high school levels. The training materials include understanding basic numeracy concepts, the difference between numeracy and calculation skills, strategies for integrating numeracy into learning, as well as the application of numeracy in various everyday life situations. The effectiveness of the activities was measured using pre-test and post-test instruments that covered six aspects of teachers' numeracy skills assessment. The training results showed a significant improvement in all measured aspects. The average pre-test scores ranged from 50–58, while the post-test results increased to 78–85. In addition to the improvement in evaluation results, observation results also showed an increase in participation, enthusiasm, confidence, and teachers' ability to discuss and simulate numeracy learning. Thus, this activity is effective in enhancing teachers' conceptual understanding and strengthening their ability to apply numeracy learning that is more contextual, innovative, and in accordance with the needs of students in the school environment.
Keywords:
Numeracy Teacher Training Community-Based Research Contextual Learning CompetenceReferences
Adam, H. B. (2024). The impact of early math and numeracy skills on academic achievement in elementary school. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies, 4(4), 193–203.
Andaya, K. O. (2025). Numeracy skills of grade 1 learners. International Multidisciplinary Journal of Research for Innovation, Sustainability and Excellence, 2(4), 340–352. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15259709
Astuti, E. P., Wijaya, A., & Hanum, F. (2024). Characteristics of junior high school teachers ’ beliefs in developing students ’ numeracy skills through ethnomathematics-based numeracy learning. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 8(1), 244–268.
Aunio, P., Heiskari, P., & Vuorio, J. (2014). The development of early numeracy skills in kindergarten in low-, average- and high performance groups. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 13(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X14538722
Basri, S., Restani, A., Thayyib, S., & Habibah, S. (2025). Peningkatan kemampuan numerasi guru di sekolah dasar kompleks Kaluku Bodoa Kecamatan Tallo Kota Makassar. KARYA: Journal of Educational Community Service, 4(1), 1–6.
Batlolona, J. R., Jamaludin, J., P. Dulhasyim, A. B., & Silahooy, S. (2024). Misconceptions of physics students on the concept of equilibrium of rigid bodies: a case study of keku culture. Jurnal Pendidikan MIPA, 25(1), 87–102. https://doi.org/10.23960/jpmipa/v25i1.pp87-102
Chambrier, D., Baye, A., Tinnes-vigne, M., Tazouti, Y., Vlassis, J., Poncelet, D., Giauque, N., Fagnant, A., Luxembourger, C., Auquière, A., Kerger, S., & Dierendonck, C. (2021). Enhancing children’s numerical skills through a play-based intervention at kindergarten and at home: a quasi-experimental study. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 54, 164–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.09.003
Chiu, M. (2018). Effects of early numeracy activities on mathematics achievement and affect : parental value and child gender conditions and socioeconomic status mediation. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education, 14(12), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/97191
Clerkin, A., & Gilligan, K. (2018). Pre-school numeracy play as a predictor of children ’ s attitudes towards mathematics at age 10. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 16(3), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X18762238
Considine, G., & Zappalà, G. (2002). The influence of social and economic disadvantage in the academic performance of school students in Australia. Journal of Sociology, 38(2), 129–148.
Dea, J. A. O., & Mugridge, A. C. (2012). Nutritional quality of breakfast and physical activity independently predict the literacy and numeracy scores of children after adjusting for socioeconomic status. Health Education Research, 27(6), 975–985. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cys069
Fenanlampir, Alberthus, Batlolona, J. R., & Imelda, I. (2019). The struggle of Indonesian students in the context of TIMSS and Pisa has not ended. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 10(2), 393–406.
Fenanlampir, Albertus, Leasa, M., & Batlolona, J. R. (2021). The development of homogeneity psycho cognition learning strategy in physical education learning. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 10(3), 1047–1059. https://doi.org/10.11591/IJERE.V10I3.21713
Forgasz, H. J., & Hall, J. (2019). Learning about numeracy : the impact of a compulsory unit on pre-service teachers’ understandings and beliefs. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 44(2). https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2018v44n2.2
Fuson, K. C., Clements, D. H., & Sarama, J. (2015). Making early math education work for all children. Phi Delta Kappan, 97(3), 63–68. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721715614831
Galligan, L. (2013). A systematic approach to embedding academic numeracy at university. Higher Education Research & Development, 32(5), 734–747. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2013.777037
Hoogland, K. (2023). The changing nature of basic skills in numeracy. Frontiers in Communication, 8, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1293754
Jordan, N. C., & Kaplan, D. (2009). Early math matters : kindergarten number competence and later mathematics outcomes. Developmental Psychology, 45(3), 850–867. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014939
Lantz, P. M., House, J. S., Lepkowski, J. M., Williams, D. R., Mero, R. P., & Chen, J. (1998). Socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, and mortality prospective study of US adults. JAMA, 279(21), 1703–1708. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.21.1703
Maulyda, M. A., Affandi, L. H., Nur, A., Rosyidah, K., Oktaviyanti, I., Erfan, M., & Hamdani, I. (2021). Profil wawasan guru sekolah dasar dalam pembelajaran numerasi berbasis level. Jurnal Pembelajaran Matematika Inovatif, 4(3), 619–630. https://doi.org/10.22460/jpmi.v4i3.619-630
Ngware, M. W., Hungi, N., & Mutisya, M. (2018). Assessing learning : How can classroom-based teachers assess students’ competencies in numeracy ? Assessing learning : How can classroom-based teachers assess students ’ competencies in numeracy ? Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 26(2), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/0969594X.2018.1503156
Nortvedt, G. A. (2010). Understanding and solving multistep arithmetic word problems. Nordic Studies in Mathematics Education, 15, 23–50. https://doi.org/10.7146/nomad.v15i3.148279
Nortvedt, G. A. (2011). The Journal of Mathematical Behavior Coping strategies applied to comprehend multistep arithmetic word problems by students with above-average numeracy skills and below-average reading skills. Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 30(3), 255–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2011.04.003
Nugraheni, L. P., & Marsigit, M. (2021). Realistic mathematics education : An approach to improve problem solving ability in primary school. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 15(4), 511–518. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v15i4.19354
OECD. (2019). PISA 2018 Assessment and Analytical Framework. In OECD Publishing.
Pickering, J., Attridge, N., Inglis, M., & Morsanyi, K. (2025). Numeracy, logical reasoning and real-world decision making. Research in Mathematics Education, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14794802.2025.2472675
Prince, R., & Archer, A. (2008). A new literacies approach to academic numeracy practices in higher education problematising terms. Literacy and Numeracy Studies, 16(1), 63–76. https://doi.org/10.5130/lns.v16i1.1948
Ramdhani, Y., & Khadafie, M. (2026). Innovation in the Use of Interactive Media to Increase Students Interest and Numeracy Literacy Ability. Golden Ratio of Mapping Idea and Literature Format, 6(2), 1416–1427. https://doi.org/10.52970/grmilf.v6i2.1755
Rossetto, L. C., & Wilkins, L. (2015). Parallel universes or Venn intersections ?: Numeracy and literacy teaching and learning. Journal of Academic Language & Learning, 9(2), 79–90.
Rufiana, I. S., Harianto, A., & Arifin, S. (2023). Penguatan kompetensi pedagogik guru madrasah pada kurikulum merdeka: bimtek pelatihan tindak lanjut hasil akmi tingkat madrasah. Jurnal GEMBIRA (Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat), 1(1), 294–303.
Schneider, M. C., Huff, K. L., Egan, K. L., Gaines, L., & Ferrara, S. (2013). Relationships Among Item Cognitive Complexity , Contextual Demands , and Item Difficulty : Implications for Achievement-Level Descriptors. Educational Assessment, 18(2), 99–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/10627197.2013.789296
Stevahn, L., Anderson, J., & Hasart, T. (2016). Community-based research (CBR) in the education doctorate : lessons learned and promising practices. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 11, 441–465. https://doi.org/10.28945/3620
Supasorn, S. (2015). Grade 12 students’ conceptual understanding and mental models of galvanic cells before and after learning by using small-scale experiments in conjunction with a model kit. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 16(2), 393–407. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4rp00247d
Tout, D. (2020). Evolution of adult numeracy from quantitative literacy to numeracy : Lessons learned from international assessments. International Review of Education, 66(2), 183–209. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-020-09831-4
Via, Y., Tatag, S., Siswono, Y. E., Java, W., Abadi, A., Planning, H. E., & Board, C. (2021). The effect of mathematics self-efficacy on numeracy skills of prospective elementary school teachers. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 16(6), 3405–3417.
Vilenius-tuohimaa, P. M., Aunola, K., & Nurmi, J. (2008). The association between mathematical word problems and reading. Educational Psychology, 28(4), 409–426. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410701708228
Wijaya, A. (2018). Opportunity-to-learn to solve context-based mathematics tasks and students ’ performance in solving these tasks – lessons from indonesia. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(10), 1–20.
Winarni, S. (2025). Numeracy skill development in prospective mathematics teachers : Challenges and opportunities in real-world contexts. Journal on Mathematics Education, 16(1), 91–110. https://doi.org/10.22342/jme.v16i1.pp91-110
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Anderson Leonardo Palinussa, Carolina Selfisina Ayal, Eka Triana

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.


