Prospective Elementary School Teachers Conceptual Understanding and Ability to Create Technology-Based Earth and Space Science Teaching Materials
Diki Rukmana* and Sri Lestari Handayani

Program Studi Pendidikan Guru Sekolah Dasar, Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. Hamka, Jl. Tanah Merdeka No.20, Jakarta Timur, Indonesia.
*dikirukmana[at]uhamka.ac.id

Abstract

As technology advances, science teachers will need to be able to create technology-based teaching materials. However, this must be accompanied by a thorough understanding of concepts, so that the use of technology in learning is consistent with the correct concept. This study aims to determine the profile of understanding the concepts and abilities of earth and space sciences based on technology of prospective teacher elementary school. Participants in the study were six semesters of prospective elementary school teachers who took a science concentration (N = 75) at a Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Jakarta, Indonesia.The instrument used to measure the understanding of the earth and space science concept was 70 multiple choice questions, while the instrument used to measure the ability to create technology-based teaching materials was 23 self-assessment items. Data was analyzed by calculating the average score. The findings revealed that the level of understanding of the concept was in the poor category (51.33%) while the ability to make technology-based teaching materials was in the very poor category (49.70%). This shows the need to improve conceptual skills and the ability to create technology-based teaching materials. It is proposed that a lecture program be developed for prospective elementary school teachers with the goal of enhancing conceptual comprehension and the ability to create technology-based Earth and Space Science teaching materials.

Keywords: Conceptual Understanding- Earth and Space Science- Prospective Elementary School Teachers- Technology-Based Teaching Materials

Topic: Physics Education