Chemistry-based socio-scientific issues (SSis) as a learning context: an exploration study of biofuels

Abstract

This study aimed to explore chemical content in socio-scientific issues (SSIs) of biofuels as a context in chemistry learning. Based on the purpose, an exploratory research design was used in this study. The selection of issues based on five criteria that include (1) authenticity, (2) relevance, (3) results that have not been determined by social consensus, (4) topics that allow open discussion, and (5) issues related to the chemistry concept. In this qualitative method, content analysis data with the coding technique was done to classify themes in chemical content related to biofuels as social-scientific issues. This research showed that energy sources from biofuels become as examples of potential socio-scientific issues in chemistry learning. This issue is addressed by the nine chemical concepts contained in the senior high school curriculum. Finally, for the future, as a context, this potential issue can be used as a driving factor in chemistry learning with the socio-scientific issues approach.