Measurement of Students Learning Outcomes through the Application of Smartphone Microscope

Abstract

This study aimed to observe students' psychomotor skills and analyze learning outcomes by applying a smartphone microscope based on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) approach as a practicum tool on the Animalia topic. This research applied a quantitative approach with quasi-experiment (Pretest-Posttest Non-Equivalent Control Group Design) and descriptive methods. An observation sheet was used as an instrument for assessing students' psychomotor skills using the observation method. Researchers also applied a multiple-choice test to measure learning outcomes. Furthermore, the population was 108 students of year 10 at SMAN 1 Woyla, while 58 students of the population were selected as the samples purposively. Data of psychomotor skills were analyzed by descriptive quantitative using a percentage formula, while the learning outcomes data was generated from the N-gain test and the independent sample t-test. The study results showed that psychomotor skills for both groups were very high (experimental group: 96.0%, control group: 95.5%). The N-gain test of learning outcomes showed the same result for both groups. However, the results of hypothesis testing revealed that the learning outcomes of the experiment group were not higher than the control group. It is known that there is no significant difference on learning outcomes $t\ (58)= .11$ (□<.05). This study results indicate that using a smartphone microscope based on the STEM approach could not improve students' learning outcomes.