THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMPUTER MEDIA WITH LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT TO INCREASE STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT IN TEACHING

THERMOCHEMISTRY

Yunia Rizki*

*Chemistry Department, State University of Medan, Jl. Williem Iskandar, Psr V, Medan
20221, E-mail: yuniarizki@ymail.com

Abstract

The effectiveness of computer media with laboratory experiment in teaching thermochemistry

was explained in this research. The method used is an intervention method to investigate the
effectiveness of laboratory experiment and computer media to increase students achievement
in teaching thermochemistry compare to the conventional method. The samples were selected
from SMA N 1 Binjai as experiment class to get teaching treatment in form of computer
media using macromedia flash with laboratory experiment. Then thermochemistry topic test
was examined to students as pretest. After giving pretest, Teaching treatment with
macromedia flash and laboratory experiment about thermochemistry was explained to the
student. After application, thermochemiatry topic test was conducted to students as a
posttest. Calculation of gain in students achievement was used for analyzing the results. It
was observed that the students mark for posttest increase as much as 57.33% compared to
pretest. Results showed that computer media with laboratory experiment are effective to
increase students achievement in teaching thermochemistry.

Key words: computer media, laboratory experiment, students achievement, thermochemistry

INTRODUCTION

Chemistry is the branch of natural science. Chemistry deals with concept such as
simple concept, complex concept and abstract concept. So, it is required the great
understanding to the subject. Chemistry is one of interesting subject for senior high school if
the teacher could teach chemistry in various, interesting and suitable method. Therefore,
choosing the right teaching method is very important for the teacher. Two of the teaching
methods have been chosen, Laboratory Experiment and Macromedia Flash as Computer
Media. These two methods are chosen to be applied for the teaching of chemistry subject to
attract students attention in the teaching and learning process in chemistry, so that those will
be expected to increase students achievement in studyng chemistry subject.

Laboratory Experiment can serve as a place to solve problems, explore the facts, skills
training process, scientific thinking and inculcate and develop scientific attitudes. Teaching
method with laboratory experiment will be able to increase thinking concept of knowledge
and skill of students in real situation by doing the experiment.
 Computer media can be used as medium of learning students in obtaining an effective
learning experience. Macromedia Flash as computer media is a combination of concept
learning with audiovisual technology that can generate new features that can be utilized in
education to present the subject matter more interesting, not monotonous, and facilitate
delivery.

LITERATURE STUDY

Teaching Method in Chemistry

Teaching methods are means by which the teacher attempts to bring about the desired
learning. Basically, method in teaching concerns the ways teacher organize and use
techniques of teaching, subjet matter, teaching tools and teaching materials to meet teaching
objectives

Conventional Method in Teaching Chemistry

The conventional method in teaching chemistry is known as the teacher is more active
than students of some major ideas. The students are passive but teacher also uses question
answer to keep them tentative in the class.

Laboratory Experiment

Experiments are the step in the scientific method that arbitrates between competing
models or hypotheses. Experimentation is also used to test existing theories or new
hypotheses in order to support them or disprove them. An experiment or test can be carried
out using the scientific method to answer a question or investigate a problem. First an
observation is made. Then a question is asked, or a problem arises. Next, a hypothesis is
formed. Then experimentation is used to test that hypothesis. The results are analyzed, a
conclusion is drawn, sometimes a theory is formed, and results are communicated through
research papers.

Computer Media

Computer can be used as medium of learning students in obtaining an effective

learning experience. Computers can work or run because there are software / program in it
that can be applied in learning. Macromedia Flash is a combination of concept learning with
audiovisual technology that can generate new features that can be utilized in education . Macromedia
Flash is a program to create animated and professional web applications.

Objective and Hypothesis

The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of computer media with
laboratory experiment in teaching thermochemistry topic. The hypothesis of this research is
computer media with laboratory experiment is effective in improving the students
achievement on the teaching thermochemistry
RESEARCH METHOD

The study is started from sampling process to obtain sample in Senior High School 1
Binjai. Populations in this research are all natural science class XI grade senior high school
students in SHS 1 Binjai sample being selected are from natural sciences class namely XI 1
class as 27 persons

First study by giving pretest to the student that related to thermochemistry topic. The
teaching treatments of computer media using macromedia flash with laboratory experiment m
were then applied to the sample class. After teaching treatment applied, the students are given
posttest. The data collected in this study are the students achievement (achievement score)
from thermochemistry topic achievement test.

The research instruments given are in form of Thermochemistry Achievement Test.

The test contain 20 multiple choice questions with five options in each. The items used in the
test are related to thetmochemistry topic.

The treatment class is instructed by using macromedia flash and small experiment in
laboratory. Because there are so many sub topic of thermochemistry, so this research
conducted in two days, in the first day the pre test is given. After that the explanation about
three sub topic of thermochemistry using macromedia flash was conducted. At the second
day, the teaching treatment was continued by giving explanation of the rest three of subtopic
thermochemistry and followed by simple experiment in laboratory. After the teaching
treatment, the posttest is carried out onto the class. The data obtained in posttest is used to
measure the students achievement in thermochemistry topic. The data is analyzed the
influence and effectiveness of computer media with laboratory experiment.The decision has
been made based on the measurement and hypotheses testing by using statistics through the
comparison between pretest and posttest result.

RESEARCH RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Before giving the treatment using macromedia flash and laboratory experiment,
samples were given pretest to determine students' initial abilities. At the end of the learning
procedure, the samples were given posttest to determine students learning outcomes.
Students learning outcomes obtained are tabulated in Table 1.

Table 1. Student learning outcomes in the treatment class

No Pretest Posttest No Pretest Posttest No Pretest Posttest No Pretest Posttest

1 40 75 9 65 90 17 45 80 25 50 80

2 40 80 10 40 70 18 45 80 26 55 75

3 40 70 11 40 75 19 45 65 27 40 70

4 40 75 12 40 65 20 60 90

5 40 70 13 45 80 21 35 70

6 35 65 14 35 80 22 40 75
7 40 75 15 45 80 23 45 85

8 50 75 16 45 75 24 40 90

Note : The test consist of 20 questions of multiple choice with each of question consist of five
options. The Score : Each of Question has five values so,
Score = Number of right Question x 5

Based on Table 1, calculation is done in order to obtain the average pretest, posttest, standard
deviation, and the gain of student learning outcomes in Table 2.

Table 2. Average, standard deviation, and gain of students learning outcomes

Pretest Posttest Gain

X S X S X

44.444 7.763 76.296 7.151 0.573

Based on Table 2, its obtained an average pretest value for treatment class equals to
44.444 with the highest score is 65 and the lowest one is 35 and standard deviation equals to
7.763. While the average value of posttest scores equals to 76.296with 90 as the highest score
and 65 as the lowest one and standard deviation for posttest equals to 7.151. The gain of
students outcome for class treatment is 0.573.

From average gain data, its obtained the gain of students learning outcomes as follows.

% gain = average for treatment class gain x 100%

= 0.573 x 100%

= 57.3 %

So the gain in learning outcomes for the treatment class was 57.3 %.

Discussion

This research result indicates that learning chemistry using macromedia flash as
computer media with laboratory experiment be able to increase students achievement in SHS
1 Binjai, in teaching of thermochemistry topic.

In preliminary data analysis, before teaching treatment is given, the pretest average
for treatment class equals to 44.447.763. Then, after giving treatment to the students are
given averags posttest result equals to 76.2967.151 and the gain of students learning
outcome equals to 57.3%.
 It shows that the application computer media with laboratory experiment be able to
improve student learning outcomes. By this method and media, students are feel motivated to
learn because students are actively involved in the learning process. It is the students who
make sense out of the experience points.

So, this study showed that Computer media using macromedia flash with laboratory
experiment is an effective teaching method. Computer media using macromedia flash with
laboratory experiment be able to increase students achievement, motivation and also their
interest to chemistry especially tehrmochemistry topic. By the animation movement in
computer media and also with the simple experiment make their open minded and chemistry
before perception as abstract become concret and close to their daily life.

CONCLUSION

The gain of students learning outcomes for teaching treatment using computer media
with laboratory experiment 57.33%.
Macromedia flash as computer media with laboratory experiment is effective to
increase students achievement in teaching of thermochemistry

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The preparation of this paper was supported by the lecture for Chemistry Education Seminar,
Mr. Manihar situmorang. I thanks to my family and all friends that contribute in preparation
of this paper, as well as all anonymous reviewers, for stimulating discussions and critiques of
our simulations and this manuscript.

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