Designing of Learning by Analogy on an Elastic Heat Engine as an Enrichment Material in Senior High School

Abstract

Learning by analogy is one method that can be used by a teacher to develop student's creativity in learning. Analogy is a comparison of similarities between two concepts. Thermodynamics is one of the teaching materials covered in the Indonesian senior high school physics curriculum. The concept of ideal gas heat engine (Carnot engine) is already known by the students after their teacher have delivered the thermodynamics material. The concept of ideal gas heat engine is then compared with the target concept an elastic heat engine, to obtain desired attributes. Students are expected to understand that the heat engine concept is applicable for elastic materials, i.e., a system involving elastic materials can changes heat to mechanical work. The method used in this case is developed by Glynn, which is called as TWA (Teaching with Analogy). The stages of the method are as follows: 1) A teacher introduces the target concept (elastic heat engine); 2) Students complete a review about the analogy concept (the Carnot engine); 3) Students identify relevant attributes between the target and analogy. Attributes are: the equation of state, internal energy, heat capacity, and Carnot cycle; 4) Students map the similarity between the analogy and target concepts; 5) Students identify/look for exceptional circumstances where the analogy does not work; 6) Students make the conclusions about the target concepts. The results are then evaluated by the teacher to determine the achievements of students towards the concept of elastic heat engine.