Awareness of environmental and energy issue in Indonesia K-12 education system

Abstract

Indonesia is one of the countries that have a strong commitment to reducing greenhouse gases. The transition to the next-generation also plays a significant role in order to ensure the continuation of the world issue, reducing greenhouse gases, and using renewable energy resources. The author does a survey limited to three schools in Medan to understand how far the students in these schools have been taught about the implementation of environmentally friendly energy resources. From the samples taken, only 13% of these students apply technology and prototyping in the energy field. About 87% of these students claimed that they never apply technology and prototyping in the energy field. The result is then tested through hypothesis testing, and within a 10% significant level, there is enough evidence to say that the students are not being exposed to the implementation of these topics optimally. From the same group of samples, the author then offers two courses that cover the application of technology and programming in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. For technology and prototyping purposes, a micro bit is used. While for programming, python is used. After the class ends, another survey was carried out, and 80% of these students claimed that those classes give them insight into the application of STEM in real life and motivate them to be a young scientist. Students who claimed have learned these during school lessons are going through the topics by themselves because the schools required them to run a science fair. This study implied that our education department should pay more attention and should include environmental and renewable energy as one of the compulsory lessons at schools.