Students’ problem-solving skills through problem based learning module: Macrozoobenthos as bioindicator water quality module

Abstract

Education plays an essential role in shaping the character of students who are dignified and responsible. The need to shape the character of these students is nothing but various problems in life, one of which is environmental pollution. Students, as the next generation, are expected to be able to overcome environmental problems. Efforts to improve students’ problem-solving skills can be made through learning with modules based on problem-based learning. This study aimed to analyze the differences in problem-solving skills between students who used problem-based learning modules and students who used science textbooks. The type of research was a quasi-experimental design. Sampling was done in the seventh grade of SMPN 15 Malang by a cluster random sampling technique with two equivalent classes consisting of experimental classes (30 students) who studied with problem-based learning modules and control classes (30 students) with science textbooks. The tests result with ANCOVA showed a significant value of 0.000 < 0.05. Therefore, the conclusion from this study was that the problem-solving skills of students who used problem-based learning modules were better than students who used science textbooks.