Description of Physics Problem-solving in the Topic of Static Fluid: Case Study of Physics Education in Halu Oleo University

Abstract

Good physics teaching in secondary schools and colleges emphasize problem-solving. Although students are effective in conventional tests of problem-solving, there is evidence that they have little or no comprehension of basic concepts. There are two (2) reasons that justify the claim that solving plays a broad role in the physics curriculum at most levels of education, namely problem solving can facilitate students learning physics and physics can assist students in developing the skills needed to solve problems in the real world. This study aims to provide a description of the physics problem-solving ability of Halu Oleo university physics education students on static fluid material. This type of research is a quantitative descriptive study with research subjects in 4 classes of physics education students at Halu Oleo University. The research instrument and data collection made in the form of problem-solving essay test questions given to 120 students from 4 classes. The material of the investigation took one of the topics, namely static fluid. The problem-solving assessment consists of a useful description, physics approach, specific application of physics, mathematical procedures, logical progression adopted from the research of Docktor et al. 2016. The results of the analysis found that in the four classes that were tested on conceptual problem-solving tests, the average of all students were in the useful description category. In other words, students could only translate and organize information from problems into appropriate and useful representations, and summarize the essence of the information provided symbolically, visually and in writing. As for the category of physics approach, specific application of physics, mathematical procedures, logical progression that are in the low category are still weak.