Effectiveness of Interactive Microcontroller Based Speed Sensors to Improve Students' Analytic Thinking Skills

Abstract

This research is a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) implementation at the senior high school level. The purpose of the research was to produce an interactive microcontroller based speed sensor that was feasible to improve students' analytical thinking skills (ATS) in the impulse and momentum learning. This research is a kind of research & development (R&D) that uses a pre-experimental design with one group pre-test post-test study. Data collection used validation sheet, ATS test, observations sheet, questionnaires, and then analyzed using the Wilcoxon test, N-gain, and descriptive qualitative analysis. The research findings were the interactive microcontroller based speed sensor devices and learning materials which were categorized as very valid. The interactive microcontroller based speed sensor in impulse and momentum learning was effective, as specified by three criteria. First, there was a significant increase in students' ATS at α = 5%. Second, the average N-gain of impulse and momentum learning was categorized as high ( .89). Third, students' responses in each learning process were categorized as very positive.