The effectiveness of research-based learning model of teaching integrated with computer simulation in astronomy course in improving student computational thinking skills

Abstract

This research aims to explore students’ computational thinking skills within the implementation of the Research-Based Learning model of Teaching in Astronomy course in Kepler and Titius Bode Laws topics. The research design is comparing the modern class (experimental class) and traditional class with the traditional teaching type. RBL model of Teaching implemented in the experimental class, while direct Teaching implemented in the control class. Computer programming is also integrated into this research related to computational thinking skills. Matlab Software used in this research related to Astronomy course of Kepler’s and Titius Bode’s Laws topics. This research used triangulation methods. The quantitative methods were applied to analyze students’ achievement tests according to computational thinking skills. The Qualitative method was applied using the observation of students’ activity. Students’ achievement tests are represented by pretest and posttest scores. The posttest results for the experimental class were 80.4167 and the control class was 75.8108. The data analysis form pretest and posttest scores indicate a significant value of 0.012 (p ≤ 0.05) with the gain in mean that also emerged in both classes. The average value of student activity for the experimental class was 3.7444 and the control class was 2.4266 from a maximum value of 5. This research results that the RBL accompanied with computer simulations have a significant impact towards students’ computational thinking skills.