A Development of IPA (Natural Sciences) Learning Tools Based on Investigative Approach in Empowering Students’ Higher-Order Thinking Skills and Concept Mastery in Junior High School

Abstract

Abstract The major objectives of this research were to produce valid, practical, and effective learning tools of IPA subject which are able to empower higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) and students’ concept mastery in junior high school. There are several specific aims such as: 1) obtaining IPA learning tools for seventh grade students of junior high school in terms of investigative, potential and effective ‘acid-base’ materials to be implemented in the subject learning process for empowering students’ higher-order thinking skills and the concept mastery and 2) obtaining IPA learning tools in the form of investigative lesson plans (RPP), Student Worksheet, and Student’s Book for junior high school. This research applies research and development design, where development is carried out with reference to the 4-D model in particular define, design, develop, and disseminate. As for the research subjects, it involved 64 students and four IPA teachers which was conduceted at a junior high school in Makassar that is SMPN 36 Makassar. In connection with it, the stages of the research are defining, designing, developing, and disseminating which focus to obtain valid, effective and practical learning tools. As as result, this research: (1) produces investigative IPA learning tools which are valid, practical, and effective for junior high school; (2) obtains the learning tools’ validity level as 3.84 which is classified as strongly valid, the practicality level of teachers’ responses aspect as 91.28 with positive response category, the implementation level as 1.83 with implemented category, and the ability to manage learning as 3.63 with excellent category; and (3) the level of effectiveness for critical thinking skills as 85.17 with high category, problem-solving ability as 74.50 with high category, and concept mastery as 82.78 with high category, and the percentage of learning completeness as 85.41% with very high category. Thus, this research produces a valid, practical, and effective IPA learning tools in empowering students’ higher-order thinking skills and the concept mastery of ‘acid-base’ materials for junior high school.