Understanding the Science Concept of Animal Life Cycles: An Analysis of Primary School Students^ Comprehension
Jofrishal(a), Haris Munandar(b*), Fakhrurrazi(c)

(a) Science Education Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Samudra, Langsa, Aceh, Indonesia
(b) Department of Elementary Teacher Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Univeristas Bina Bangsa Getsampena, Banda Aceh, Aceh , Indonesia
(c) Biology Education Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Serambi Makkah, Banda Aceh, Aceh , Indonesia

Abstract

Understanding students^ concepts is important in measuring feedback from the learning process that occurs. The level of students^ understanding can be seen when the students are able to re-explain the concepts they have understood using their own sentences according to their level of ability without changing the substance of the meaning. The aim of this research is to determine elementary school level students^ understanding of the concept of animal life cycles. This type of research is qualitative descriptive research. Sampling for the subjects of this research was determined using the Nonprobability Sampling technique. The data collection techniques used were tests and interviews. The data analysis techniques used are data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. Based on the research results, information was obtained that of the five indicators of conceptual understanding studied, the indicator explained the lowest percentage achieved by students, namely 45.83%, while the highest indicator was obtained in the classifying section, namely reaching 90.83%. These results show that students^ ability to explain the concept of animal life cycles is still very low, this is due to their limited mastery of the material. Students have difficulty giving explanations related to the concept of metamorphosis, food webs and also the adaptation process.

Keywords: Understanding, Concepts, Animal Life Cycle

Topic: Education and Pedagogy