Implementation of learning based on scientific approach to improve science process skills of biology education students in general biology course

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to know the science process skills of biology education students through learning based on scientific approach. The study involved 42 students from Biology Education of Sriwijaya University that enrolled in general biology course. The research used pre-experimental method with one group pretest-postest design. Collecting data using a written test of 60 questions that consisting of 7 aspects of science process skill (observing, communicating, classifying, predicting, identifying variables, formulating hypothesis, and interpreting data). The data were analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test followed by Mann-Whitney test. The results showed that there was a significant improvement in the science process skills, with significance value of p = 0,000 at α = 0,025. Improved science process skills in biology education students are included in the medium category, with an average of normalized gain (n-gain) = 0.41. The highest increase in science process skills on the communicating aspects (n-gain = 0.65) and the lowest on predicting aspects (n-gain = 0.17). Based on the results of this study indicates that learning based on scientific approaches can improve the science process skills of Sriwijaya University Biology Education students in general biology course.