Information and Communication Technologies to Improve Problem Solving and Self-Efficacy: Exploring Geometry Learning Using Dynamic Mathematics Software Geogebra

Information and communication technologies can support learning of geometry through geogebra software. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of dynamic mathematics software geogebra towards problem solving and self-efficacy. Seventy-four university students divided to one class assigned as geogebra assisted learning and the other as using conventional learning. The results showed a significant difference of problem solving between these two groups statistically. Additionally, The results showed that there is a significant difference of self-efficacy between these two groups statistically. The results indicates that the problem solving and sef-efficacy of the university students using geogebra assisted better than using conventional learning. We can conclude that the dynamic mathematics software geogebra is effective to improve problem solving and self-efficacy

Development of Worksheet Based on Scientific Approach to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

This study aimed to develop and determine the advisability of chemical worksheets based on a scientific approach to improve students' critical thinking skills. The research method uses five design research steps simplified from Borg's and Gall's research and development. The subject of this research are science education program students at one university in Indonesia. Validation subject matter feasibility on the worksheets is 4.34 (best criteria), while the feasibility is 4.17 (best standards). A random assessment from several students is obtaining an average score of 98.67% (positive response). The research results conclude that a worksheet is advisable for students. Expert opinion conveys that using a scientific approach to the problems presented in the worksheet reveals stimulates, encourages, and improves critical thinking skills.

STEM Education Implementation in Indonesia: A Scoping Review

In Indonesia, STEM education has been implemented in the learning process since 2014. The number of researches on the implementation of STEM education are increasing from year to year. Therefore, this research was conducted to map the all articles published online with the theme of STEM education implementation in Indonesia. The scoping review was carried out following the framework from Arksey & O'Malley (2005), with the following steps: (1) formulating research questions, (2) exploring research results on Google Scholar database from 2015-2020 with the keyword “implementation” + "STEM education" + “Indonesia”, (3) sorting the collected articles with predetermined criteria and selecting them according to the PRISMA model, (4) discussion, and (5) conclusion. Found 597 articles that match to these keywords and 154 articles that meet the criteria as research data. The results showed that the STEM education is implemented as a learning strategy and approach, integrated with other learning models, used as a learning assessment, and developed into teaching materials, modules, and learning media. Additionally, teachers implement STEM to improve entrepreneurship skills, learning motivation, and various 21st-century skills in their students. Furthermore, research on STEM has been conducted in 19 provinces in Indonesia, which are dominated by West Java and East Java provinces. Beside that, the STEM education has been studied at all levels of education and high school is the most widely used research subject and STEM education has grown in small units and has proven to be capable of developing many student skills. The implementation of STEM education can be a trigger for renewal in the world of education.

Implementation of Talking Stick Method on Acid-Base Concepts to Improve Students' Critical Thinking Skills

This study aimed to improve the critical thinking skills of class XI high school on acid base material in the 2018/2019 using the talking stick method. This research is a classroom action research conducted in two cycles. Each cycle consists of planning, implementation, observation and reflection so that this study describes planning, activities and improving critical thinking skills of high school of class XI. The subjects of this research is all students of grade XI in one of the South Tangerang high schools in Indonesia which consisted of 33 students. Data collection techniques in this study were using essay tests, observation sheets, teacher activities, student activities, field notes and interviews. The results of this study indicate that students’ critical thinking skills increase using the talking stick method seen from the student ability to answer questions, express opinions, respond to friend opinions and consider sources. Critical thinking skills has increased, in the first cycle that is equal to 21.20% while in the second cycle is 90.90%. It can be concluded that the use of the talking stick method can improve the critical thinking skills of class IX high school in acid base material.

University Students' Acceptance of Evolution: Basis for STEM-based Instructional Design

This study was conducted to explore the overall acceptance of evolution among undergraduate students in a State University as basis for developing a STEM-based instructional design to address the misconceptions about evolution. The research was conducted using the 20-item questionnaires of the Measurement of Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution (MATE) instrument assessing undergraduate students' acceptance of evolution in relations to; the process of evolution, the scientific validity of the evolutionary theory, the evolution of humans, evidence of evolution, scientific community's view of evolution and age of the Earth. The study is within a quantitative and qualitative framework using descriptive and inferential analysis. The findings revealed that all the colleges in the science group acquired a moderate level of acceptance except for the CED non-science group who received a low degree of acceptance of the theory of evolution. Although among the six concepts in the study, they generally agree on the statements and only in the idea on the age of the earth where the students were undecided. This research confirms that the level of acceptance is not positively related to the students' specialization. Based on the result of this study there is a need to develop a STEM based instructional design and this should be emphasized in the science curriculum. The teaching design will fill in the gaps in understanding concepts of evolution and its significance to the lives of many organisms and for the teachers to look evolution from very broad flexible and interdisciplinary perspectives.