YOGYAKARTA – In an effort to bridge students’ difficulties in understanding abstract mathematical concepts, the program titled “Exploratory GeoGebra Training to Enhance University-Level Mathematical Understanding: Analysis and Applied Mathematics” was successfully held. This Community Service Program (PkM) took place in a hybrid format, beginning with an asynchronous session from September 22 to October 2, 2025, at the Faculty of Science and Technology, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, and concluding with an intensive on-site session on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Computer Laboratory of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Yogyakarta State University (UNY).

The activity was initiated by a PkM team led by Prof. Dr. Hartono, M.Si., with members Dr. Nikenasih Binatari, M.Si., Dr. Dwi Lestari, M.Sc., Fithri Annisatun Lathifah, M.Si., and Ikha Puspita P, M.Sc.

Addressing Abstract Concept Difficulties

In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Hartono, M.Si. stated that this training was designed to overcome challenges commonly faced by students, particularly in real analysis courses.

“Based on our observations, many students struggle to abstract formal definitions in topics such as limits, derivatives, and integrals. This affects their problem-solving ability,” explained Prof. Hartono. He expressed hope that the program would strengthen students’ conceptual and applicative skills and foster critical thinking through a visual approach.

A warm welcome was also given by the partner representative, Zaki Riyanto, M.Sc., who appreciated this collaborative initiative and hoped for continued cooperation in the future for mutual advancement.

Series of Interactive Sessions

The highlight of the on-site activity featured in-depth and interactive materials. The main training sessions were divided into three crucial topics that gradually built participants’ understanding, from basic concepts to formal proofs.

The session “Simple Understanding of Limits” was initiated by Prof. Dr. Hartono, M.Si., followed by Dr. Nikenasih Binatari, M.Si. The next session, “Formal Definition of Limits,” was delivered by Dr. Dwi Lestari, M.Sc., and the event concluded with “Proofs of Limits” once again guided by Dr. Nikenasih Binatari, M.Si.

The entire event ran smoothly with full support from the assistant team consisting of Irfan Fuadi, S.Pd., Nafa’atul Ilmi Arriesty, S.Pd., and Hafsah Aulia A.M, S.Pd.

Positive Feedback from Participants

The benefits of the training were directly felt by participants. One of them, M. Alpiansyah, shared that his understanding of the concept of limits had significantly improved.

“Although I had studied limits before, I didn’t fully understand them. After this training, I now better grasp what a limit is, its definition, and how to prove it. The visualization using GeoGebra was very helpful,” he said.

The success of this event demonstrates that visual tools like GeoGebra are highly effective in enhancing conceptual understanding of mathematics at the university level. It is hoped that such innovative learning approaches can continue to be developed and implemented more broadly.