The effectiveness of modified free inquiry strategies to enhance mastery of molecular biology concepts
Evi Suryanti(a,b*), Any Fitriani(a), Sri Redjeki(a), Riandi(a)
a) Pendidikan IPA, Sekolah Pascasarjana, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
*evisuryanti97[at]student.upi.edu
b) Pendidikan Biologi, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Islam Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia
Abstract
This study aims to test the effectiveness of the modified free inquiry strategy in Molecular Biology. The quasi-experimental method used involves one experiment and one control group. Topics covered are DNA Isolation, Electrophoresis, and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Multiple choice objective tests have been used as data collection instruments. Statistical differences test shows that no significant difference in mean scores between the two groups on all topics, so it was concluded that modified free inquiry strategy was not effective in Molecular Biology especially on the topic of DNA Isolation, Electrophoresis, and PCR. The implication of this research is that the use of the modified free inquiry strategies can be supplemented with computer-based technologies such as virtual laboratories, and portfolio instruments can be used as alternative assessments to assess students mastery of concepts.
Keywords: Free inquiry strategies; DNA isolation; Molecular biology, Mastery of concepts, Effectiveness
Topic: Biology Education