Assessing eighth graders’ scientific explanation on human excretory system

Abstract

The scientific explanation is the essential part of inquiry-based instruction, which is the official learning approach of the Indonesian 2013 curriculum. The scientific explanation is needed in interpreting and explaining investigation findings. The knowledge of the human excretory system has some scientific explanations. The purpose of this study is to assess the eighth graders’ scientific explanation skills. This study applies survey design. The subjects of the study are 46 eighth graders of public islamic junior high public school (MTsN) of 2 of Blitar. The instrument is an open ended test consisting of 15 valid items with Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.902. Analysis of students’ scientific explanation skills shows that the students’ ability in formulating claims is 64.9% (high), in showing evidence is 47.7% (moderate), and in interpreting evidence is 46.2% (moderate). These results indicate that the students already have scientific explanation skills with a moderate-low category. Therefore, the instruction that focuses on developing students’ scientific explanation skills needs to be developed.