Physics Student's Research Skills Performance: A Field-Based Approach in Geoscience Learning

Abstract

This research aims to describe performance of university physics students in the field of geoscience, focusing on assessment of students' ability in field-practice implementation associated with geoscience learning to solve corresponding problems in the society living nearby the volcano. The present study involved a total of 32 students in the year 3 of their study, performing field work relevant to geoscience themes in Mount Kelud, well known as Tourism Park in East Java province, Indonesia. Based on the assignments distributed over the students during practising research skills, we concluded that students' performance was overall good, indicating that they were well-trained. However, further improvement of the skills was required for at least two competencies, namely ability to assess critical information from the source and to both analyze and synthesize relatively new knowledge and hence different perpectives obtained on site. Following the research results, we hereby recommended that the field-based approach in geoscience learning is of significance in supporting improved performance and better research skills of university physics students.