Today’s digital world is characterized by changes that occur so quickly that it creates many problems as well as challenges. For this reason, people who are able to think quickly to solve these problems are needed, one of which is through analytical thinking skills. One way to improve analytical thinking skills is to use an active approach through working on math problems. Learning mathematics at the senior high school (SMA) level, both general and vocational, is not only intended to achieve the specified mathematical abilities but also to hone analytical thinking skills. Moreover, in the last three years the National Exam has used this ability as one of its benchmarks through the use of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) type questions. Based on the survey results, the frequency of using HOTS questions in learning, both in practice and exams is still lacking. This is because teachers still have difficulties in making HOTS type questions, lack of understanding of the criteria for HOTS questions and most teachers have not received training on making HOTS questions. Therefore, through the 2020 Community Service program, the Airlangga University Mathematics Study Program in collaboration with the High School Mathematics Teachers Association (MGMP) in Tuban Regency held a training activity for high school teachers with the theme “Training on the Preparation of Learning Evaluation Instruments.
This community service program itself is carried out in two stages. Training activities which are the initial stage of a series of Community Service program activities were held on October 17, 2020 face-to-face at SMA Negeri 3 Tuban. The high school, located on Jalan Manunggal No.14 Tuban, became the venue for organizing training activities while still paying attention to the COVID-19 health protocol. The participants of the training activities were representatives of Mathematics teachers from several schools in Tuban Regency as many as 30 participants. The training activities were carried out by providing material by teaching staff from the Mathematics Study Program of Universitas Airlangga, including the material “Understanding HOTS” delivered by Dr. Yayuk Wahyuni, M.Si., the material “HOTS Problem Development” by Dr. Inna Kuswandari M.Si., and the material “Problem Formulation Rules” by Bustomi, M.Sc. Discussion activities in parallel classes according to the participants’ teaching classes were carried out in the next session accompanied by a team of instructors. This session discussed the questions made by the participants related to the fulfillment of HOTS criteria, as well as the technique of changing non-HOTS questions into HOTS questions if possible. In this case, the instructor and other participants provided input or suggestions on the questions to be developed.
The next stage of this Community Service activity is the review process by a team consisting of lecturers and students on HOTS questions that have been prepared by the participants. The results of the review are sent back to the participants to be revised if there are items that must be corrected or are not in accordance with the review indicators. While the final stage of the series of Community Service activities is an evaluation of the implementation of activities and the results of the preparation of questions by participants held online.
