A Contextual Semi-Assisted Project-Based Learning on Ocean Wave Energy: Pre-service Physics Teachers’ Perceptions

Abstract

The lack of technological innovation in the utilization of ocean wave energy as a renewable energy source is caused by a lack of public knowledge about this matter. Therefore, it needs to be introduced early, especially to pre-service teachers through innovative and fun learning. The aim of this study was to identify the responses of pre-service physics teachers about the learning program to introduce the concept of utilizing ocean wave energy. The research subjects were 31 sixth semester students who are taking environmental physics lectures in the physics education study program at one of the teachers' university in West Nusa Tenggara Province for the 2019/2020 academic year. The sample was taken by using purposive sampling technique. Data collection was carried out by means of observation, interview, and questionnaire techniques. All data collected were then analyzed simultaneously descriptively. The findings of this study showed that almost 90% pre-service physics teacher students agreed that the learning program had a positive impact on increasing interest, motivation, critical thinking skills, and creative thinking skills, and made them easier to solve problems and grow solid cooperation. Therefore, it can be concluded that pre-service physics teacher students agree to the use of semi-assisted project-based learning programs with contextual problems.

Improving Critical Thinking Skills (CTS) of Students Through Wave Energy Learning Project (WELP) on Environmental Physics Lecture

“…This program means that learning is student-centered, where lecturers only appear if they are not constrained in the learning process. The learning focuses on the main concepts and principles of a discipline, all students are actively involved in problem-solving and other meaningful assignments, they are allowed to work autonomously by constructing their learning, and ultimately produce valuable and realistic results [10,11,39]. In addition, improving students' CTS is supported by exercises to hone students' CTS on each assignment and worksheets such as journal analysis, reviewing existing converter models, and others.…”

“…The mean semi-assisted assistance is efforts before the project starts. Pre-service physics teachers are introduced to a simple converter model as a model to be developed further, or a new model is made but has the same function that generates electrical energy from the movement of ocean waves [11]. The project is carried out in groups, with a total of 5 groups (each group consists of 6 people).…”

“…In some physics education study programs, there are Environmental Physics courses that can bridge the delivery of the concept of ocean wave energy to students. Based on the results of the analysis of curriculum documents and semester learning plans for environmental physics courses in one of the physics education study programs, it was found that the lectures carried out only discussed the use of renewable energy in general and did not try to teach in detail how to use ocean wave energy to produce electrical energy that can be used in everyday life [8][9][10][11]. At the same time, apart from teaching the concepts, it is also necessary to provide students with 21st-century skills such as CTS, creative thinking and other skills, which are very much needed when they have a career in their respective fields.…”

Assessment on Environmental Quality Management of Coal Stockpile for Environmental Sustainability

“…Also, another impact was on the living things' health, which emerged from air pollution, due to the large use of coal fossil fuels [18,19,27,29]. This impact was as a result of dust, sulphur and nitrogen dioxide (SO 2 & NO 2 ), as well as particulate matter [21].…”

“…Similarly, the impact of CO 2 emissions as air pollutants from coal-red power plants, contributed to environmental problems [21,[24][25][26]. Meanwhile, other potential impact emerged from the use of fossil fuels in large quantities, which is likely to result in health deterioration of living things [18, 19,[27][28][29], such as noise kebisingan [2,30], spontaneous combustion [9,10,31-34] and a decrease in soil quality [35][36][37][38][39][40]. These impacts occurred in an attempt to secure more energy, food, and infrastructure.…”