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 analysed using Wilcoxon test, N-gain, and descriptive qualitative analysis. The research findings were the interactive microcontroller- based speed sensor devices and learning materials which were categorised 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 categorised as high (.89). Third, students' responses in each learning process were categorised as very positive.