This research is aims to develop the local excellences-based teaching materials of South Sumatera for science learning in elementary school. This teaching materials are designed and manufactured with local pre-eminent items in South Sumatra and adapted to the subject matter taught in science learning in elementary school. This research is a development research using ADDIE development model and Tessmer evaluation method. The development stages in this research include analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Evaluation of prototypes is conducted by: self evaluation, expert reviews, one-to-one evaluation, small group evaluation, and field test evaluation. Prototypes are validated by experts in materials, constructs, language, and media. The instruments used are questionnaires, observation sheets, test results and product assessment sheets. The result of the research shows that the teaching materials based on local excellences of South Sumatera are valid and after being tested in one to one, small group evaluation, field test evaluation of this teaching materials are considered practical. In conclusion, the teaching materials based on local excellences of South Sumatra are feasible to be used for science learning in elementary school.

Plant identification is a process of determining plant species based on classification system by observing either morphological structure or anatomical structure of the plant. The aim of this study for determine the effect of using applications on the ability to identify plants for biology education college students by comparing the identification abilities of students after carrying out plant identification activities using matching plant the characteristic of object methods and application based android. The research design used the pretest – post test group design technique. Furthermore, data analysis used N-gain test to determine the improvement of collage students' abilities and independent sample t-test to determine the effect of the use of application based android on the ability to identify plants with the prerequisite test for the normality test and homogeneity of the research sample. The results showed that there were differences in the improvement of students' abilities in plant identification activities. The data showed that the increase in knowledge in the treatment class was higher due to the use of application based android by students. The independent-sample t-test analysis showed the sig value. 0.00 (<0.05). It indicates that there is a significant difference in increasing student knowledge in plant identification activities in classes, where the experimental class shows a better improvement than the control class. Thus it can be concluded that the use of application based android affects the ability of plant identification in college students

Microalgal isolates in various habitats have different biocomponents, and isolates found in the swamps of South Sumatra have not been explored deeply. This study was designed to analyse morphologically and isolate microalgae that have potential as biofuel candidates through their lipid content. Results showed that five isolates originating from four different sources in South Sumatra, namely, Chlorella vulgaris Beyerinck (DV 005), Dictyosphaerium granulatum Hindák (DV 003), Nannochloropsis sp. (DV 009), Scenedesmus bernardii G. M. Smith (DV 011) and Golenkinia radiata Chodat (DV 001), were identified. Amongs the five isolates, the C. vulgaris Beyerinck (DV 005) isolate had the highest lipid content (15.30%), indicating its potential as biofuel candidate.

Empowerment of creative thinking skills is important in every lecture activity, including practicum. This study aimed to analyze students' creative thinking skills in Plant Microtechnique practicum. This research used descriptive method in which the participants were the seventh semester biology education students (n=20) of State University of South Sumatera, Indonesia. The student has taken Plant Microtechnique Course in the previous semester. The instrument used was essay test developed based on creative thinking indicator. The data were processed by calculating the percentage for each indicator and categorized into three levels (i.e., low, medium, and high). The findings revealed that students’ creative thinking skills in Plant Microtechnique laboratory practices were medium for fluency indicator, and low for flexibility, originality, and elaboration indicators. Therefore, it is necessary to revise learning strategies that support the empowerment of students' creative thinking in Microtechnique Laboratory practices.

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