No abstract

This study aims to describe the availability and use of science learning media in class 6th of Catholic private elementary schools at Langke Rembong District. This research method is in the form of a survey that focuses on two things, namely the availability and use of science learning media. The study was conducted to all the science teachers in class 6th totaling 46 teachers as a population, then the data were only taken from 23 teachers as a sample selected purposively. Instruments used were questionnaires, checklists, interviews, and documentation. The results showed that the availability of science learning media in those schools were sufficient. However, many media were in damaged conditions. Those happened because they were stored, not used. Most teachers were not trained to use that media and had no initiative to solve the problem. Therefore, in terms of utilization, only good media is utilized to its full potential.

The study aims to investigate Person Ability and Item Fit instruments for critical thinking skills of the environment (Eco Critical Thinking Skill) in elementary pre-service teachers. Instrument investigations were carried out by describing item fit, separation of item and person, unidimensionality, and reliability of item and person. The research method was carried out quantitatively by collecting data through an open-answer essay test and an ecocritical thinking skill test. Participants in this study were Elementary School Teacher Education (ESTE) students from 3 universities in Surabaya of East Java, Surakarta of Central Java, and Manggarai of East Nusa Tenggara. The number of participants was 110 ESTE students. Data were analyzed with the Rasch Model WINSTEP software. The result of the study is that 36% of ESTE students have high Person Ability, 58% of them have average Person Ability, and the rest (6%) have low Person Ability. Students who have higher abilities are dominated by students from campus in Surabaya at 50%. Item fit Instrument with Mean Square (MnSq) 0.7 - 1.33. ZSTD -1.4 - 2.0 and Pt-measure Corr 0.49–0.6. The research concludes that an instrument of ecocritical thinking skills is a good fit instrument. The distribution of pre-service teacher qualifications from Surakarta and Manggarai is at a medium level, and students from Surabaya-East Java dominate high ability. Elementary pre-service teachers have the most dominant ability to explain and analyze a phenomenon or fact related to environmental damage.

This study aims at exploring and finding the character values in penti ceremony, Manggarai. Penti means the harvest thanksgiving ceremony of the Manggarai people. Penti is a sign of gratitude to God the Creator (Mori Jari Dedek) and to the ancestral spirits over all the crops. This research is conducted in East Manggarai district, NTT Province. There are several stages of ceremony penti, they are teinghang, barong lodok, barong wae, libur kilo, dan tiba meka landang. Each of these preparations with ritualistic rituals have their oun meanings. Technique of collecting data is done through interview and literature study. The research shows that penti emphasizes customs, imitation, exemplary, command, reward, and authority in character formation. Character formation is inseparable from the cultural environment in which children grow and develop.