Biosaintifika
Journal of Biology & Biology Education
http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/biosaintifika
DOI: 10.15294/biosaintifika.v9i1.7959
Faculty of Mathematics Education and Natural Sciences, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia
How to Cite
Widodo, A., Maria, R. A. & Fitriani, A. (2017). Constructivist Learning Environ-
ment During Virtual and Real Laboratory Activities. Biosaintifika: Journal of Biology
& Biology Education, 9(1), 11-18.
Correspondence Author: p-ISSN 2085-191X
Jl. Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229 Bandung 40154 e-ISSN 2338-7610
E-mail: widodo@upi.edu
Ari Widodo et al. / Biosaintifika 9 (1) (2017) 11-18
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Ari Widodo et al. / Biosaintifika 9 (1) (2017) 11-18
Table 1. Activities conducted by students in the virtual laboratory and real laboratory settings
Students activities in the virtual laboratory Students activities in real the laboratory
0 Reading instruction guide on how to use 0 -
the software
1 Reading a case presented in the software 1 Reading a case presented in a student work-
sheet
2 Formulating a hypothesis and identifying 2 Formulating a hypothesis and identifying
variables that influence the situation variables that influence the situation
3 Identifying equipment needed for the 3 Identifying equipment needed for the experi-
experiment ment
4 Conducting virtual experiments 4 Conducting real experiments
5 Recording data with the software 5 Recording data in notes
6 Analysing data 6 Analysing data
7 Answering guiding questions 7 Answering guiding questions
8 Drawing conclusions 8 Drawing conclusions
9 Reflecting on the activities 9 Reflecting on the activities
tiation) promoted by virtual laboratory activities laboratory activities, however, show that the vir-
and real laboratory activities. Average scores for tual laboratory promotes a constructivist learning
each criterion are calculated based on students’ environment slightly better than the real labora-
responses to five statements that represent each tory (Figure 1). While virtual laboratory activities
criterion. showed improvement, real laboratory activities
did not.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The CLES scores reported in this study
are higher than a previous study conducted with
In general, students in this study gave a pos- junior high school students (Yulianti, 2006) as
itive impression about the laboratory activities. A well as studies conducted in Turkey (Ozkal et
comparison between the two types of laborato- al., 2009) and Vietnam (Thao-Do, et al., 2016).
ries using CLES shows that real laboratory learn- The scores are, however, lower than found in
ing environment is slightly more constructivist Palestine (Zeidan, 2015). In general, studies on
than virtual laboratory (Figure 1). This result is constructivist learning environments suggest
quite similar to a previous study reported by Fra- that students’ active involvement in hands on ac-
ser & Lee (2009) that students preferred to have tivities may lead to better constructivist learning
real laboratory activities. Opportunities to have environments. In addition, in a cultural context
hands on experience and to do things of their in- where students have a high respect to the teach-
terest are factors that contribute to students’ posi- ers, they also tend to perceive their learning envi-
tive views on laboratory activities (Toplis, 2012). ronment as more constructivist (Aldridge et al.,
2000). These results suggest that constructivist
learning environments are shaped by physical
factors, such as the use of hands on material as
well as psychological factors, such as respect for
the teacher.
A more detailed analysis for each criteri-
on of the learning environment shows that real
laboratory activities score higher on all criteria,
except for “Student Negotiation” (Figure 2). The
aspect of student negotiation scored higher in the
virtual laboratory since that environment allows
Figure 1. Constructivist learning environments in students to make decisions on their own and to be
both types of laboratory settings before and after independent learners (Donnelly, O’Reilly, & Mc-
the lessons Garr, 2013; Scheckler, 2003). Unlike their fellow
students in the real laboratory class who have to
Analysis of the scores before and after the follow the instruction in the worksheet, students
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Ari Widodo et al. / Biosaintifika 9 (1) (2017) 11-18
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Ari Widodo et al. / Biosaintifika 9 (1) (2017) 11-18
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Ari Widodo et al. / Biosaintifika 9 (1) (2017) 11-18
and challenging each other’s ideas. This result fits suggest that the best alternative is to start a lesson
a finding reported by Donnelly, et al. (2013) that with real laboratory activities and follow it with
virtual laboratory activities give more emphasis virtual laboratory activities. In such a sequence,
on the “minds on” part of the laboratory ac- students have opportunities to explore and inter-
tivities. In the virtual laboratory setting students act with the real situation before exploring more
have the opportunity to design and test their ideas possibilities virtually.
in very quick ways. The recognition of the importance of labo-
ratory activities in the Indonesian curriculum is
clearly reflected in the teaching approach rec-
ommended by the government, i.e. the scientific
approach (Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebu-
dayaan Republik Indonesia, 2013). The imple-
mentation of the scientific approach in teach-
ing requires a teacher to provide a certain level
of laboratory exposure to the students. Previous
studies however, have reported that real labora-
tory activities are rarely conducted due to reasons
such as unavailable of equipment, limited school
Figure 8. Pattern of students’ responses on CLES budget, and prolonged time needed in the class
criterion of “Student Negotiation” (Yenita, et al., 2013). Virtual laboratory activities
may offer a good alternative for laboratory activi-
In general, this study finds that virtual ties that demand observation at an analytical lev-
laboratory and real laboratory activities can cre- el such as measuring the absorption of metal ions
ate constructivist learning environments. It sug- by a certain plant callus (Nurchayati et al., 2016)
gests that both types of laboratories can provide or exploring different composition of growth me-
a learning environment that supports students in dia (Hasanah et al., 2014). Virtual laboratory ac-
constructing new knowledge. Since the national tivities are worth considering in schools either as
curriculum (Kurikulum 2013) is also based on an alternative to real laboratory activities or as a
constructivism (Kementerian Pendidikan dan complement to the real laboratory activities.
Kebudayaan, 2014) teachers may use either vir- The result of this study shows that both
tual laboratory or real laboratory activities, or a types of laboratory activities can create a con-
combination of both. The results of this study structivist learning environment and therefore
also support previous studies on constructiv- biology teachers may choose either type of labo-
ist learning environments as contributing to an ratory activity in the lessons. However, since each
improvement in student learning. Two separate type of laboratory activity has particular strengths
studies conducted by Alt (2015) and Partin & and weaknesses, in planning the activities biology
Haney (2012) show that constructivist learning teachers should bear in mind strategies to reduce
environments contribute to the improvement of the weaknesses and improve the strengths of the
students’ academic self-efficacy. Other studies chosen laboratory activities. In the context of the
have also reported improvement in students’ criti- implementation of the new curriculum (Kuriku-
cal thinking skills (Kwan & Wong, 2014) and stu- lum 3013) that requires teachers to implement
dents’ conceptual understanding (Widodo et al., scientific approach in their teaching, teachers can
2010). perform demonstration to raise students’ ques-
Each type of laboratory activity however, tions followed by virtual laboratory or vice versa.
has unique strengths and weaknesses. While vir- For the future research, this study suggests that
tual laboratory activities are more powerful in researchers should focus on finding the best com-
creating opportunities for student negotiation, bination of virtual and real laboratory activities
real laboratory settings are stronger at creating and how they may facilitate students’ learning
personal relevance, uncertainty, critical voice and progression and conceptual change.
shared control. This result suggests that virtual
and real laboratory activities are not best set up in CONCLUSION
competition, but rather complement each other.
Therefore, lessons should focus on finding the Both virtual laboratory and real laboratory
best strategies to combine the two types of labo- activities can improve the learning environment
ratories so that students get maximum benefits to become more constructivist. Each type of la-
(Olympiou, et al., 2003). Taghavi & Colen (2009) boratory, however, contribute differently to each
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Ari Widodo et al. / Biosaintifika 9 (1) (2017) 11-18
aspect of the constructivist learning environ- Harlen, W. (1999). Effective Teaching of Science: A Review
ments. While a virtual laboratory is powerful in of Research. Edinburgh: The Scottish Council
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real laboratory activities promote aspects of per- Hasanah, U., Suwarsi, E. R., & Sumadi. (2014). Pe-
manfaatan pupuk daun, air kelapa dan bubur
sonal relevance, uncertainty and student negotia-
pisang sebagai komponen media pertumbuhan
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Konstruktivisme dalam Kurikulum 2013.
In: http://www.kemdikbud.go.id/main/
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