Department Of Natural Sciences Research Articles

Implementation of 5E Plus Learning Model on Energy Subject Matter to Improve Students’ Argumentation Skills

Argumentation skills consist of 2 elements: skills to construct arguments and implement them. However, some studies show that students’ argumentation skills were low. This study proposed the 5E Plus learning model to improve students’ argumentation skills. The model consists of an element named Enliven and six syntaxes: Orientation, Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, and Evaluation. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the 5E Plus learning model in improving students’ argumentation skills. This study used Energy subject matter (which consisted of 3 topics, Mechanical, Heat, and Electrical Energy). The study’s sample consisted of 40 1st semester college students from the Natural Science department and was taken randomly. We used One-Group Pretest-Posttest as a research design and collected data using an argumentation skills test. The data was examined using an Independent sample t-test to determine the effectiveness of the 5E Plus learning model. The results were: 1) the 5E Plus learning model was effective for improving students’ argumentation skills, 2) All components of students’ argumentation skills were successfully improved, which warrant experienced the highest improvement, 3) Students’ argumentation skills in all three topics were successfully improved, which in Mechanical Energy topic the skills experienced the highest improvement.

Implementasi E-Learning Pada Mata Pelajaran Jurusan IPA Menerapkan Pengembangan Waterfall

Student activity can be carried out by utilizing interactive technology and easy to use by students. E-Learning is learning that utilizes electronic media such as the internet, interactive TV and audio to deliver learning materials anywhere and anytime. In research conducted at MAS Alamanaar PTPN IV Pulu Raja, several things became obstacles in the learning process, including the limitations of learning resources based on computer and telecommunications technology. Materials that are applicable or applied should train students more but lack facilities and infrastructure, learning is still normative. Students need broad access to learning, active, creative, and a challenging learning environment. The use of the internet has not been optimal in finding learning resources. The lack of interest and interest of students in participating in learning the subjects of the IA (Natural Science) Department using conventional methods so far, which is indicated to be in line with the low student learning outcomes. Especially during a pandemic like today, schools need learning media that can be done online. Based on these problems, to support the learning process in schools, an E-Learning platform was built that can help schools in learning the IA (Natural Sciences) Department, because the features in E-Learning really help teachers and students in doing online learning, such as features materials, assignments, discussions between students and subject teachers and final grades that can be seen directly by students. The application is built using the SDLC Waterfall Model. The research method used is a qualitative method, with interview data collection techniques, observation and literature study. The results of this study, E-Learning can facilitate teachers and students for teaching and learning activities, practice questions and can overcome obstacles to teaching and learning activities, so that the E-Learning system is feasible to be implemented as a means of supporting learning in schools.

English as a medium of instruction in Kazakhstani higher education: a case study

ABSTRACT In the era of the globalization of the English language, Kazakhstan has strategically implemented English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) in higher education. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to explore teachers’ and students’ perceptions of their EMI experiences, focusing on the interplay between language management (LM), language practices (LP) and language ideology (LI) (Spolsky, 2004). Thus, a qualitative case study design was employed wherein four teachers and six undergraduate students from one Department of Natural Sciences were interviewed. Moreover, information from the official website and policy documents of the university were used for document analysis of its EMI policy. The findings revealed that participants had a positive LI towards EMI as this is helpful for language development, although many of them encountered challenges during LP due to their low mastery of English. The university’s LM system was unsuitable as administrators neglected to address the participants’ linguistic difficulties related to EMI which led to the use of the translanguaging method for comprehension purposes during LP activities. The participants also reported that continuing LP in EMI and teachers’ emotional support contributed to students’ language improvement. Ultimately, this study suggests that administrators improve the quality assurance of the EMI policy.

Join the Dots: assessing a collection of 80 million items at The Natural History Museum, London

ABSTRACT Collections assessments can inform strategic planning, project management, baseline assessment reports, project cost-benefit analyses, support funding requests and collections advocacy. In 2018, 77 staff at the Natural History Museum, London, took part in a successful collections assessment exercise on its 80 million item collection. 17 questions provided details of the Condition, Importance/Significance, Information available and Outreach use/potential about 2602 Collection Units covering the entire Natural History science departments and Library and Archives. Results can be displayed and filtered via a bespoke dashboard in Microsoft Power BI, accessed via a web link available internally to all staff. The project successfully recorded the expertise of the curatorial staff and produced the first comprehensive assessment of the Natural History Museum’s collection. The methodology is outlined here to encourage other institutions to run the same assessment. Future developments in the methodology such as automation of scoring and development of the dashboard are discussed.

Pembimbingan Tes Intelegensi Umum Calon Pegawai Negeri Sipil di Kota Sorong

This service activity aims to improve the skills of test-takers in solving general intelligence test questions for prospective civil servants in 2021. The method used in this service is participatory action research which involves collaboration with participants through actions given by the trainer as well as a facilitator. The action is in the form of delivering material, giving information on how to quickly solve problems, and tiered exercises. An important finding in this service is that students who are guided in following explanations and exercises well, meanwhile through pre-test and post-test data, it is concluded that there is a gap in mathematical insight and case analysis for civil servant enthusiasts from the natural sciences department or allied with graduates from majoring in social sciences or a cognate. This difference in responses and learning outcomes becomes a follow-up in the next service with different treatments.

The Quality of Training Staff for the Digital Economy of Russia within the Framework of STEAM Education: Problems and Solutions in the Context of Distance Learning

The purpose of this study is to analyze the problems of quality training of personnel for the digital economy of Russia during the pandemic within the framework of STEAM education and to identify their solutions with the help of the most effective distance learning tools. The research is based on a survey of 138 respondents (students of the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the Yelabuga Institute of the Kazan Federal University), who have mastered professional competencies in a distance learning format during the pandemic. The results of the survey confirmed the conclusion that distance learning tools such as Moodle, Google Classroom, and Microsoft Teams have shown their effectiveness and can be successfully used not only in the context of extreme situations, for example, a pandemic, but also as elements of blended learning while bringing variety to the forms of learning, and thereby strengthening the process of training STEAM education specialists. The scientific novelty of the study lies in a deep analysis of the distance learning tools used for training specialists for the digital economy of Russia, namely STEAM education specialists, based on the collection of information from students during the period of transformational changes in the pedagogical education system.

РОЗВИТОК БІОЛОГІЧНОЇ ОСВІТИ У ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОМУ РЕГІОНІ УКРАЇНИ

The article discusses the issues related to the creation, reorganization, functioning and development prospects of the Department of Natural Sciences and their teaching methods of the Volodymyr Vynnychenko Central Ukrainian State Pedagogical University. Special attention is paid to the activities of the scientific and educational environment, which develops and popularizes biological education in the Kirovohrad Region and outside its boundaries, implements scientific, educational, methodical, educational and organizational work, and trains highly qualified teaching staff. The stages of the foundation, reproduction of the Department of Natural Sciences and Geography and its unification with the Department of Physics and Mathematics, which resulted in a new powerful Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technologies, were analyzed. A list of talented managers, scientists, teachers, teaching and support staff, students and graduates is given. The participation of scientists of the department in conferences of various levels, seminars, webinars, round tables, and internships is revealed. The scientific and journalistic activity of the members of the department is highlighted separately. The career guidance activity of the department, participation in improving the qualifications of teaching staff of the Kirovohrad Region is shown. Attention is paid to scientific, educational and methodical work with students, pupils of educational institutions of general secondary education. Effective research that corresponds to modern development vectors of biological and pedagogical science is highlighted. The cooperation of the department with Ukrainian and foreign scientific and educational institutions is shown, scientific consulting of institutions, enterprises, organizations is given. The activities of the department’s teachers were revealed on television at the regional and all-Ukrainian levels. The prospects of the department's activity in the context of changing the status of a pedagogical university to a classical, multidisciplinary higher educational institution are shown. Key words: history of education, Biology, Natural Sciences, department, university, teachers, scientists, students, graduates.

Place of History in the History of Science

This article aims to reflect on the place of history in the history of science from the perspective of Brazilian historiography of science, mainly according to the thought of the Brazilian physicist and historian of science, Carlos Alvarez Maia. Since the 1990s, Maia (2013) began to question why the history of science became (and still largely remains) a “history of absent historians” in the face of the predominance of history of science in the Natural Science Departments and the absence in History Departments. The dynamic and changing historiography of science itself reaffirms the lack of historical analyses using history’s methodological and conceptual apparatus. Thus, epistemological aspects appear interrelated to political-institutional issues. Consequently, one has a political-epistemological perspective for discussing the place – or non-place – of history in the history of science. The thought of Maia (2013) acts as an essential starting point for reflection. It constitutes a possible opening in constructing a consolidation of discussions about the impacts (of the absence and the presence of the conceptual apparatus of history) in developing new historiography of science conceptually historical.

Администраторы поневоле: профессора ботаники и зоологии российских университетов и создание лабораторий в 1860-70-е гг.

The creation of laboratories and the introduction of practical training in botany and zoology at the universities of the Russian Empire took place in the 1860s and 1870s and was the result of professorship fellows at foreign universities at the period of the late 1850-s and the 1860-s. But after returning home the professors faced problems, the result of which in some cases was the impossibility of putting their ideas into practice. In this article, the author analyzes information about fellowships in the late 1850–1860s, considering the main vectors of movement of scientists, and talks about the difficulties faced by university professors in organizing classrooms and laboratories and compares their efforts to supply microscopes in relation to the number of students of the natural sciences departments.

25 years of Scientific and Educational Cooperation between the Department of Natural Sciences at New Bulgarian University and the Space Research and Technology Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

The paper presents the results of the scientific and educational cooperation in the field of earth sciences and ecology between the Department of Natural Sciences at New Bulgarian University (NBU) and the Space Research and Technology Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (SRTI-BAS) for the period 1996-2021.

Successful Completion of an International Project of the Department of Natural Sciences at New Bulgarian University

The paper presents the results of a successfully completed international project of the Department of Natural Sciences titled “Monitoring and identification of the entomopathogenic fungus Entomophaga maimaiga in Lymantria dispar populations” and funded by the National Research Fund in 2017-2019. Investigating the distribution of E. maimaiga in Austria and Bulgaria in 2018-2019 shows that the pathogen has expanded its range to the west and reached Lower Austria. E. maimaiga has been identified in Bulgaria as well and has become part of the natural enemy complex of L. dispar.

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from routine clinical specimens of a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh

Background and objectives: To prevent the emergence and spreading of antimicrobial resistance, especially multidrug resistance in pathogenic bacteria, the selection of appropriate antibiotics is a prerequisite for the effective treatment of infection.This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial isolates from various clinical samples in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This study was conducted at a teaching hospital of Dhaka city, Bangladesh from January 2020 to March 2021. The results of culture and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from various clinical samples were collected and analysed. Identification of bacteria and antimicrobial susceptibility test were performed according to the standard methods. Results: A total of 1277 bacterial isolates was analyzed. Of them, 1072 (83.95%) were Gram-negative, and 205 (16.05%) were Gram-positive bacteria. Among the isolates, Escherichia coli (n=576), Enterobacter spp. (n=150), Klebsiella spp. (n=140), and Staphylococcus aureus (n=117) were predominant.The Enterobacteriaceae showed higher resistance to cephradine (94.3%) and cefuroxime (76.7%), whereas least resistant to imipenem (10.1%) and meropenem (14.8%). Pseudomonas spp. was highly resistant to ceftriaxone (80.2%), and colistin (70.8%), whereas least resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam (15.1%). Colistin was the most effective agent (resistance 6.7%) against Acinetobacter spp. Linezolid (resistance 1%) and vancomycin (resistance 2%) were highly effective against Gram-positive bacteria. Among the Staphylococcus aureus, 95.7% were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). A total of 889 (69.6%) bacterial isolates were identified as multidrug resistant. Multidrug resistance was more prevalent in Gram-positive isolates (79.5%) than that of Gram-negative bacteria (67.7%). Furthermore, 7.5% of Gram-negative bacterial isolates were resistant to all seven classes of antibiotics tested. Conclusions: This study revealed presence of high rate of resistance to several antimicrobial agents in bacteria isolated from various clinical samples.The findings would help healthcare professionals to select appropriate antibiotics for the effective treatment of infections and to develop antibiotic stewardship protocol. IMC J Med Sci 2022; 16(1): 005 *Correspondence: M. Mahboob Hossain, Microbiology Program, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MNS), BRAC University, 66 Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212. E-mail: mmhossain@bracu.ac.bd

Preface

The 1st International Conference on Physics Issues (ICoPIs2021) Universitas Tadulako, Palu, Indonesia 28 August 2021 The International Conference of Physics Issues (ICoPIs) is an international conference held by the Department of Physics Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Tadulako University. The 1st International Conference on Physics Issues (ICoPIs2021) was a virtual conference organized by the Department of Physics Education in the Faculty of Teacher Training and Eucation, Tadulako University on 28th August 2021. This conference covered a variety of works, including the works on 1) learning strategy, model, method, media and learning evaluation in physics education; 2) nanoscience and nanomaterials; 3) research result of physics; 4) strategy, model, method, media and evaluation in natural science education; and 5) general education. The conference offered extraordinary opportunities for educators, teachers, researchers, administrators and decision-makers to exchange and gain new insights on the ongoing research works and an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded researchers from across the world.Theme of the conference was “Bounce Back Better: Enhancing Innovative Thinking Through Independent Campus-Freedom to Learn (MBKM) during Pandemic Era”. This event took the theme of “bounce back better” as an attempt to be resilient during the current pandemic situation. This conference was a forum for discussing and gaining knowledge and ideas from educational practitioners and experts. Accordingly, we hope that through this information exchanges, we will be more prepared for unprecedented situations in the future.On behalf of the committee, we would like to thank the Chancellor of Universitas Tadulako, Dean of the Teacher Training and Education Faculty, Head of the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department, advisory board, steering committee, all committee members, reviewers, presenters, and participants. Recognition should go to the ICoPIs2021 Team members who have all worked extremely hard for the details of important aspects of the conference programs and social activities. Special thanks are also given to the Proceedings of the IOP Conference. We, on behalf of the ICoPIs 2021 committee, would like to thank all parties for their participation in supporting this publication. We hope to see you all at the next conference.Kind regardsDr. Nurjannah, M.Pd.Chair of the ICoPIs 2021List of Organizing Committee, Photographs are available in this pdf.

Chromato-mass-spectrometric research in Salvia grandiflora L., Salvia pratensis L. and Salvia verticillata L. aboveground organs

The genus Salvia L. has more than 900 species distributed throughout the globe. 21 species are growing in Ukraine. All species of this genus have essential oils. Salvia officinalis and Salvia sclarea have been used in the culture and are widely used in medical practice. The chemical composition of other species of sage and the possibility of their use in pharmaceutical and medical practice are almost not studied. Taking into account the results of chemotaxonomic studies of species of the flora genus of Ukraine, their prevalence and prospects for introduction into the culture, for further studies were selected raw materials of S. grandiflora, S. pratensis and S. verticillata.
 The aim. The aim of the study was to conduct a chromato-mass spectrometric study of the aboveground organs of S. grandiflora L., S. pratensis L. and S. verticillata L. to establish the prospects for the use of raw materials of these species in medical and pharmaceutical practice.
 Materials and methods. The objects of the study were leaves of S. officinalis, leaves, stems and flowers of S. grandiflora, S. pratensis and S. verticillata, which were harvested on the basis of the botanical garden of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. The research of volatile substances in the objects of the research was carried out by the method of GC-MS on the basis of the Department of Natural Sciences for Foreign Students and Toxicological Chemistry of Zaporizhia State Medical University.
 Results. As a result of the study, 243 substances were found in the objects of the study, of which 149 were identified. 77 substances were found in the leaves of S. officinalis, 80, 26 and 63 substances in the leaves, stems and flowers of S. grandiflora, respectively, in the leaves , stems and flowers of S. pratensis – 28, 30 and 48 substances, respectively, in leaves, stems and flowers of S. verticillata – 39, 22 and 39 substances, respectively. Dominant compounds among substances of terpenoid nature are: cyclofenchene, camphene, 1,8-cineole, α-thujone, β-thujone, camphor borneol, caryophyllene, humulene, viridiflorol, sabinene, pyranone, β-pinene, phytol, kolavenol, β-copaen, loliolide, pseudolimonene and spatulenol. Among the dominant substances, 8 were detected for the first time in these species: cyclofenchene, viridiflorol, sabinene, pyranone, phytol, kolavenol, loliolide and pseudolimonene.
 Conclusions. The leaves of S. officinalis, leaves, stems and flowers of S. grandiflora, S. pratensis and S. verticillata of the flora of Ukraine were studied by chromato-mass spectrometric method. As a result of the study, 243 substances were identified, of which 149 were identified. Promising raw materials containing terpene compounds for S. grandiflora there are leaves, and for S. pratensis and S. verticillata – flowers, so they are promising agents for introduction into pharmaceutical practice

Cross-polarized light as an imaging technique for graptolites

Photography using cross-polarized light is a standard technique for certain types of fossils such as Burgess Shale material; however, the technique has not been used for photography of graptolites. Here we demonstrate that cross-polarized illumination is useful for obtaining high-quality images of graptolites. The technique can also facilitate visualization of fusellar banding, allowing fossils of uncertain affinity to be identified as graptolites. Lucy A. Muir [ lucy@asoldasthehills.org ], Department of Natural Sciences, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP, UK; Lucy M.E. McCobb [ Lucy.McCobb@museumwales.ac.uk ], Department of Natural Sciences, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP, UK; Yuandong Zhang* [ ydzhang@nigpas.ac.cn ], CAS Key Laboratory of Economic Geology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, PR China; *also affiliated with University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.

Convergent evolution in planktic graptolites: independent origin of the dicranograptid morphology in the Hirnantian (latest Ordovician)

A new genus and species of planktic graptolite, Anjigraptus wangi gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Upper Ordovician (Hirnantian) sponge-dominated Anji Biota of Zhejiang Province, China. The new genus has a biserial proximal portion and two uniserial stipes distally, the same tubarium form as Dicranograptus. The new genus has probable pattern H development and lacks introverted thecae; it can thus be readily distinguished from the biostratigraphically important Late Ordovician graptolite Dicranograptus, the Late Ordovician Diceratograptus, and the Ordovician–Silurian Neodicellograptus. As Anjigraptus wangi gen. et sp. nov. appears to lack a nema in its uniserial portions and can be distinguished from all other biserial graptolites in the same assemblage, we conclude that the new taxon is not a teratomorphic form of a previously known species, but represents convergent evolution of the dicranograptid morphology. The holotypes of two species of Neodicellograptus (N. siluricus and N. spinosus) are re-illustrated. Lucy A. Muir [lucy@asoldasthehills.org ], Department of Natural Sciences, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP, UK; Yuandong Zhang†* [ydzhang@nigpas.ac.cn ], CAS Key Laboratory of Economic Geology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, PR China; Joseph P. Botting‡ [acutipuerilis@yahoo.co.uk ], Department of Natural Sciences, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3LP, UK; Xuan Ma† [mxnjues1990@126.com ], CAS Key Laboratory of Economic Geology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, PR China. †also affiliated with University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China. ‡ also affiliated with Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, PR China.

Fa’aliyyah Istikhdām Kitāb al-Lugah al-‘Arabiyyah al-Muṭawwar fi Ḍaui al-Takāmul baina al-‘Ilm wa al-Wahy bi Qism al-Riyāḍiyyāt wa al-‘Ulūm al-Ṭabī’iyyah bi Jāmi’ah Sunan Gunung Jati al-Islāmiyyah al-Hukūmiyyah Bandung

The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of the use of Arabic textbook in improving the academic achievement of students from the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department at the Tarbiyah Faculty of UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung in the field of Arabic learning. The textbook was developed with Dick and Carey's development model that was adapted and modified by Lawrence Cunning Ham. Next, the textbook assessment was carried out with assessment instruments made by the National Education Standards Board (BNSP). This study used the quasi-experimental method with data obtained through pre-test and post-test and analyzed with T-test and Anova. The results of this study indicated that the average pre-test score of Arabic learning from Mathematics Education students was 37.00 (low), Physics Education 32.31 (low), Chemistry Education 33.17 (low), and Biology Education 28.53 (low). Meanwhile, the average post-test score of Arabic learning from Mathematics Education students was 79.74 (high), Physics Education 81.93 (high), Chemistry Education 80.43 (high), and Biology Education 81.72 (high). In general, students from the said departments experienced a high increase in the Arabic learning outcomes with an average increase of more than 0.70 (70%). This study implies that the use of a science-based textbook integrated with the verses of the Qur'an is very effective in improving academic achievement in Arabic subjects.

Celebrating Women in Paleobotany: A Tribute to Edith L. Taylor—Introduction and Dedication

Celebrating Women in Paleobotany: A Tribute to Edith L. Taylor—Introduction and Dedication

A Place for Volunteers in Field Sciences

A Place for Volunteers in Field Sciences

The essence and mechanisms of environmental competence formation in students of natural science departments

A comparative analysis of the ecological (environmental) educational component of the training in students of Natural Science Departments (Chemistry, Biology, Earth Sciences, Ecology) and future teachers of natural sciences has been carried out. The general and professional competences, program results of training, and applicants training educational programs on the example of several Ukrainian universities are analyzed. It is revealed that the formation of environmental competence is carried out by acquiring environmental education by means of interactive technologies, forms, and methods of organizing the educational process. The positive influence of students’ involvement in research, environmental, ecological, and naturalistic work in extracurricular time on the formation of their environmental competence has been confirmed. The role of educational and industrial practices in the process of students’ professional training and the formation of their environmental competence is emphasized.