Deskripsi Kemampuan Peserta Didik SMP dalam Menyelesaikan Soal Pesawat Sederhana dengan Berbagai Representasi
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35719/vektor.v7i01.221Keywords:
numerical image, problem-solving ability, representation, simple machines, symbolic imageAbstract
This study aims to describe students’ ability to solve simple machine problems using different forms of representation. Understanding multiple representations is an important aspect of science learning because it helps students connect concepts, interpret information, and apply problem-solving strategies effectively. The research employed a descriptive survey method involving 56 eighth-grade students selected through saturated sampling. Data were collected using a four-item essay test designed to assess students’ problem-solving abilities and supported by unstructured interviews with six selected students to obtain deeper information about their reasoning processes and difficulties. The results revealed that students achieved an average score of 72.52% on problems presented through verbal representation combined with numerically labelled pictures, compared with 62.80% for verbal representation combined with symbolically labelled pictures. These findings indicate that students found numerically labelled representations easier to interpret and solve because they enabled direct substitution and computation. In contrast, symbolic representations required stronger conceptual understanding and more complex mathematical reasoning before the information could be applied correctly.
Abstrak
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan kemampuan peserta didik dalam menyelesaikan masalah pesawat sederhana menggunakan berbagai bentuk representasi. Pemahaman terhadap representasi majemuk merupakan aspek penting dalam pembelajaran IPA karena membantu peserta didik menghubungkan konsep, menafsirkan informasi, serta menerapkan strategi pemecahan masalah secara efektif. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode survei deskriptif dengan melibatkan 56 peserta didik kelas VIII yang dipilih menggunakan teknik sampling jenuh. Data dikumpulkan melalui tes esai sebanyak empat butir soal yang dirancang untuk mengukur kemampuan pemecahan masalah peserta didik serta didukung oleh wawancara tidak terstruktur terhadap enam peserta didik terpilih untuk memperoleh informasi yang lebih mendalam mengenai proses berpikir dan kesulitan yang dialami. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa rata-rata capaian peserta didik pada representasi verbal yang dipadukan dengan gambar berlabel numerik mencapai 72,52%, sedangkan pada representasi verbal yang dipadukan dengan gambar berlabel simbolik mencapai 62,80%. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa peserta didik lebih mudah menyelesaikan soal dengan representasi numerik karena memungkinkan substitusi dan perhitungan secara langsung. Sebaliknya, representasi simbolik menuntut pemahaman konsep yang lebih kuat serta kemampuan penalaran matematis yang lebih kompleks sebelum informasi dapat diterapkan dengan tepat.
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