Scientific Argumentation in Primary School: How do Pupils Explain Degradable and Non-Degradable Trash? Fully Rakhmayanti, RR Sukardi, DT Kurniawan, AP Tanuatmadja
1,2,3 Primary Education Study Program in Cibiru Campus, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
4 Master of Education in Teaching Practice, Monash University
Abstract
The amount of waste originating from household and industrial activities is increasing every year in Indonesia. This is supported by the consumption pattern of the people who are not selective towards the types of packaging materials used. The purpose of the descriptive study was to determine the fundamental concept mastery of students related to the waste problem. The study involved 30 students aged 11-13 in the Bandung, West Java who were selected by convenience sampling technique. The instrument was a scientific reasoning test that collects students^ argumentative skills regarding waste problems, both biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Student^s arguments were analyzed based on the existence of the argument components, then classified them based on their quality. The results showed that most of the student^s scientific argumentation skills were at level 1 and level 2. This indicated that the student^s arguments were only dominated by claims, data, and evidence. These findings indicate the need for learning related to waste management that can not only improve the quality of students ^arguments but also increase student^s awareness of the environment.
Keywords: scientific argumentation, primary school, degradable, and non-degradable trash
