A Closer Look at Chemistry in Real Life: Analyzing Students Chemical Literacy through the Integration of Ethical Dilemma-STEAM Teaching Model Yuli Rahmawati, Elsa Vera Nanda, Annisa Khairani, Alin Mardiah
Chemistry Education Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Indonesia
Abstract
This paper aimed to analyze students chemical literacy through implementing the Ethical Dilemma-STEAM teaching model in acid and base learning. This model is designed to engage students in values-based learning through dilemma stories posing environmental problems to be solved through the development of an interdisciplinary project. This study involved forty 11-grade students at a secondary school in Jakarta, Indonesia. The qualitative method was employed to investigate students learning experiences through multiple data collection of classroom observation, semi-structured interviews, reflective journals, and chemical literacy tests. The model engaged students through five stages of learning: value reflection, problem-solving & decision making, content integration, STEAM integration, and transformation. In this model, students are challenged to develop a jet-powered boat project as the solution to the inter-island mobility dilemma. The study demonstrated that students are experiencing in chemical literacy development through encouraged to think critically by applying their conceptual understanding into practice. Besides, they feel motivated to look closer at chemistry issues in everyday life. Thus, this model can be used as an alternative way to engage students in making relevances between chemistry concepts and their application in the environmental context. The paper also addressed the researchers difficulties in implementing this innovative approach to chemistry learning during COVID-19 outbreaks.
Keywords: Acids and Bases, Chemistry Learning, Chemical Literacy, Ethical Dilemma-STEAM Teaching Model
