Investigating the Impact of Three Level of Representation-based Visual Media on Students^ Mental Model
Ananda Hafizhah Putri, Andi Suhandi, Achmad Samsudin

1Department of Science Education, Mathematics and Science Education Faculty, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effect of visual media on students^ mental model regarding battery functions and electrical resistance concepts. The study presents a novel visual media that consists of phenomena video, dynamic analogy, and microscopic models. The visual media development followed ADDIE Model. The research subjects were 25 students from 12th grade in a private senior high school located in Bandung, West Java. Students^ mental model was measured using essay that examined four concepts: 1) electromotive force (EMF) in battery- 2) electrical resistance- 3) resistors in series- and 4) resistors in parallel. The essay was administrated through pre- and post- tests. Pretest revealed that majority of students had initial mental model regarding battery functions and electrical resistance concepts. Meanwhile, the final mental model that majority of students had was synthetic model mental. But, majority of students reached successfully scientific model mental regarding resistance concepts. In other concepts, there were only few students who achieved scientific model mental. Overall, the effect of visual media on students^ mental model was at acceptable correction. In detail, students^ mental model corrections were 92% for EMF in battery, 96% for electrical resistance, 80% for resistors in series, and 84% for resistors in parallel. The findings can encourage physics teachers and researchers to develop innovative visual media oriented on students^ mental model correction in scientific concepts learning.

Keywords: Instructional technology, Mental Model, Physics concepts, Visual media

Topic: Science Education