THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VIRTUAL STEM LABORATORY TO IMPROVE STUDENT PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILL Nila Asmila Sari, Sri Mulyani*, Budi Hastuti, Nirma Yunita Indriyanti
Chemistry Education study program, Faculty of Tacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret.
This research aims to develop a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) approach based-virtual laboratory that can help high-school students understand chemistry equilibrium material and improve their problem-solving skills. A virtual STEM laboratory was developed using Reeves^s Design-Based Research (DBR) model that consists of four steps: (1) researchers and practitioners work together to analyze practical problems, (2) develop solutions on design principles and technology, (3) iteratively test and refine in context, and (4) reflect on the process and product to identify theoretical and practical insights. Quasi-experiment research in three senior high schools (School A, B, and C) has been conducted to check the product^s effectiveness. Each school provides two classes, an experimental class and a control class. The experimental class was conducted using a virtual STEM laboratory media-the control class without using the media. The research results showed that the significance value of the independent t-test (2-tailed) between experimental and control classes in each school is 0.000. It is indicated that the problem-solving skills of high-school students who use a virtual STEM laboratory are higher than students who do not use a virtual STEM laboratory.
Keywords: Virtual Laboratory, STEM, and Problem Solving
