Analysis of Students’ Scientific Problem Solving Skills in Learning Using PhET Simulation in 3T Region

Abstract

Scientific problem solving skills is truly needed when we meet the contextual problems in daily life. Besides, the nowadays challenges in 21st-century has led to scientific and technology-integrated learning so that the students must be prepared to have problem solving skills comprehensively. The purpose of this study was to analyze students’ scientific problem solving skills in learning using PhET simulation in 3T region. The 3T region is the outermost area in the territory of Indonesia requiring three conditional parameters which are terdepan (frontier), terpencil (remote), and tertinggal (disadvantaged). Basically, there are 122 regions in Indonesia that are included in the 3T region, one of which is Nimboran, Papua. The research site was Public SHS 1 Nimboran, Papua, Indonesia. This descriptive qualitative research investigated all students of XI Science. The sample consisted of 51 students taken with purposive random sampling. The researchers collected the data and triangulated them with interview, observation, and documentation. The results were 10.20% students could define the problem. A percentage of 3.27% students could explore the problems. The percentage of 10.98% students could arrange the solution plan. Then, a percentage of 6.54% students could evaluate the data. The test technique obtained the average score of 38.46 for the students’ scientific problem solving skill. It indicated the students still had low scientific problem solving skills.