Abstract:
Creative thinking and analytical thinking are both important ability in solving mathematical
problems. But in most of the current formal education of mathematics, learning mathematics often
focuses on developing analytical thinking skills only, while creative thinking skills are often
overlooked, including in higher education. Therefore, it takes an effort to improve the creative
thinking abilities of students by providing learning activities that can support the development of
their creative abilities. Open-ended learning approach is one of learning approaches that allows
students to cultivate creative thinking skills and make them actively involved in learning activities
in lectures. Open-ended approach uses open-ended questions as a learning tool.
An experimental study was conducted to find out the difference of creative mathematical
thinking ability of students in the learning discrete mathematics by using an open-ended approach
and their attitude toward learning. The research was conducted by using control group pretestposttest
design. The population of this research was students who took discrete mathematics
subject in academic year of the Department of Mathematics Education o f U IN Suska Riau, while
the samples in this study were class A and B students who were randomly selected from all
students as the control class and experimental class. The instrument used to collect data consisted
of creative mathematical test contained math questions to measure ability of students'
mathematical creative thinking. In addition, questiormaire on students' attitude with Likert-scale
model to find out the students' attitudes towards learning by using open-ended ap^xozch.
Based on analysis of data from the post-test results and findings of this research, it can be
concluded that students' mathematical creative thinking skills learned by using open-ended
approach is better than mathematical creative thinking ability of students who obtain regular
learning. Based on questionnaire responses on the students' attitudes, students have a positive
attitude towards learning by using open-ended approach
