March 11th, 2020

Strengthening Water Cycle Literacy among Senior High School Students in East Java Province, Indonesia through the Application of the Conservation-Based Learning Model

By Sukarsono Sukarsono, Lise Chamisijatin, Eko Susetyarini and Fuad Jaya Miharja

Students directly feel the river flow and measure the depth of the Brantas River in East Java

 

Sukarsono JSE Mar 2020 Water Issue PDF

Link to JSE March 2020 Water and Climate Issue Table of Contents

Abstract: Water cycle literacy attracts great attention to the observers of climate change. Local and global impacts of the water cycle threaten human life and damage the Earth. Education is expected to be able to provide a way out of this problem. A Conservation-Based Learning (CBL) model was employed to understand the water cycle literacy among students in three cities in East Java province, Indonesia. There were 6 (six) Senior High Schools with a total number of 396 students serving as the sample. Each school consisted of common classes and CBL classes. Water cycle literacy aspects included knowledge, values, cognitive behavior, and acting behavior. The data were analyzed using a descriptive quantitative, and qualitative approach. The data were analyzed using a descriptive quantitative, and qualitative approach.  The literacy aspect of values, attitudes, thinking, and acting skills in the water cycle in the CDL class is higher than that of the common class. Learning the water cycle using the CBL model gave significant effects on the students’ strengthening of water cycle literacy (sig. 0.5).

 

Keywords: water cycle literacy, conservation-based learning model, knowledge, value, attitude, behavior.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Scientists agree that  climate change is closely related to water cycle. Any disturbance to the water cycle will give impacts on almost all life system in the Earth. The temperature of the earth surface in average increases around 0.6ºC in the last century, and it is predicted to rise 1.8-6.6ºC  in the next 100 years.  Such a small change in average temperature may seem insignificant, but many natural processes have been greatly influenced, including the water cycle. Global warming intensifies water movements through a cycle of which its process depends on temperature (NOAA, 2019).

Experts predict that Indonesia will encounter fresh water scarcity in 2025 (Royyani, H. 2017). Such water scarcity will absolutely also be experienced by more than 40% of the earth’s population (Royyani, H. 2017). Even, the problem in  fulfilling the need for water will occur  in all countries (Al-Ansari et al., 2014).  The United Nation reminds that water scarcity will influence the agricultural system and the fulfillment of staple foods (UNDP, 2007). This problem will also impact global food crises and starvation. The objective of reducing starvation and poverty in the world is hindered by climate change, water and energy crises (Qureshi, 2010). The impacts of  climate change have altered the pattern of rain and this may result in various natural disasters such as floods and drought (Poudel et al., 2017).

Environmental changes, including climate changes, will influence the demand for the people’s awareness of and responsibility for the environment. These powers will also affect the world of education, especially schooling (Anderson, 2013, Mulford, 2008).

It is agreed that humans are the main cause of climate change. The environmental problems in the world civilization in the 21st century have obligated the world of education to change the old paradigm which gave too much emphases on the science for the sake of the science, and the art for the sake of art into a new one which gives a priority to the sustainable values, attitudes, and behavior (BNSP, 2010). The paradigm is known as the literacy aspect (Deswari, 2018; Hines et  al., 2014; Palmer & Neil, 1994; McBride et al., 2013; NSF, 2019;).

The sustainable environmental education encounters  an obstacle in integrating learning materials. Integration is needed  to grow values and attitudes that end with behavioral changes. The ownership of strong values among students will result in sustainable behavior. The behavioral changes model proposed by Fishbein (1975) and Kollmus, A (2002) shows that sustainable behavior will not be formed if  students do not have any values built by the knowledge presented  in proper methods.

Exploration and internalization of values in students are key words for reaching success in forming attitudes and behavior (Schultz, 1972). On the contrary, any failure in integrating the values is a serious threat to the development of the students’ way of thinking, values, attitudes and behavior and this may threaten the their life safety and environment in the future. Learning activities using the CBL model give an emphasis on the importance of exploration and internalization of conserving values that will build their attitudes and behavior (Sukarsono, 2018).

 

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Water Cycle Literacy 

An issue of literacy in the field of environment firstly attracted to attention of the world in the UN conference held in Stockholm in 1972 (Palmer, J. A. & Neil, Philip, (1994); Blessing, 2012). Environmental literacy refers to certain literacy that shows behavior responsible for the environment. Literacy starts from some awareness of and care for problems dealing with the environment and then proper actions are taken to solve the problems (Deswari Nurul, 2019).

Referring to the general understanding of environmental literacy, water cycle literacy, if it is related to some ideas proposed by experts, is not merely the knowledge aspect but should also be supported by other aspects to realize proper behavior towards a sustainable water cycle. It is the attitudes of and care for the water cycle that may then grow one’s motivation to realize behavior of caring for the water cycle (Blessing, 2012). Another expert states that water cycle literacy includes any knowledge of water cycle issues, knowledge of actions,  and action behavior showing good attitudes towards water (Hines, et al., 2004).

A water cycle is defined by experts as an event of a simple cycle consisting of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. However, this cycle is greatly complicated and is not fully understood (NOAA, 2019). Although principally the  total amount of water in the cycle is constant, its distribution in various process always changes (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2019). A water cycle is an endless process connecting all water in the earth. A water cycle contains more events, instead of merely raining and evaporation. One of the events is  the cloud which is another way to return water into the land (National Geographics, 2019).

Changes in a water cycle are be caused by high tension and changes in the water cycle itself. Direct tension in the hydrological system comprises of  changes in the land allotment, urbanization, industrialization, and significant changes in techniques. Indirect tension comes from human population growth to meet their needs for freshwater, cleanliness, foods, and energy (Bridgewater, et al., 2018).

Based on the experts’ viewpoints, it can be stated that a  water cycle is not a simple cycle event, but it involves various types of complicated events that are in itself directly related to humans. Even, this involvement has resulted in a great disturbance that spoils the water cycle globally (NASA. 2019). Any disturbance to the changes affects the sea level, the sea salinity, and the biophysical characteristics of soil surface. All of these changes, at last, give feedback to the climate globaly. The runoff change due to the loss of vegetation and water infiltration to the soil causes  some decreases in river runoff, and also in  a yearly freshwater volume used by humans.

Human interest in water has made a water cycle as a vital event in the ecological system. But, each explanation of the water cycle either at school or in the  university is hardly found even it never involves humans as a part of the components of a water cycle chain. No human involvement as one of the cycle components in the water cycle causes themto feel out of the cycle. Their actions to water are solitary following their desires since they are considered to be another component in the ecosystem and the cycle is not related to humans.

This limited water cycle literacy will stimulate students to think that they are separated from the natural system, including the water cycle in nature. Whereas in fact, water also always moves in the human water cycle – providing us with power to our houses, keeping water in our bodies, watering plants, supplying energy which is related to and depends on one another (NSF, 2019).

 

Water Cycle Values in Learning 

Like an ecosystem and its diversity, a water cycle is a phenomenon involving a lot of ecosystem components. It is recognized by experts in ethics that a water cycle possesses essential intrinsic values for conservation (Rolston 1986; Callicott 1989; Sandler, R. 2012).

Intrinsic values are those  attached to and possessed by an ecosystem component and  events in it. Human beings make   evaluation intrinsically in accordance with  knowledge they possess. It is expected that the higher the intrinsic values, the higher their attention to protecting the ecosystem will be. Besides intrinsic values,  ecosystem components  and their  processes also own instrumental values. Instrumental values are  ones possessed by the ecosystem  components  and their processes used to reach the goals of human beings(Kerry. 2013; Sandler, R. 2012).. These values are in the form of lists of goods and services given by the ecosystem, such as foods, beverages, fuels, building materials, fibres, medicines, land-sliding keepers, and the like  (Daily G, 1997).

Contextual learning basically  is a pragmatic effort given to  students to understand natural events, including the water cycle. Learning models are developed to know  pragmatic problems. From the pragmatic viewpoint, a water cycle and the whole process in it can be valued as the goodness of nature itself for the interest of human beings s (Hampicke Ulrich, 1994). Fulfilling human needs from ecosystem services is more likely to approach them to be willing to improve ecology.  Nature cannot wait until  all humans  possess the same  understandings and values of nature, then it acts.  Any damage to nature is caused by human beings who need it but who   do not respect it as it should be (Norton. B, 1987, 1991).

 

Learning to Build Pro-Water Cycle Behavior 

Education is basically  a conscious effort made to change behavior. Through education, the formed behavior will be based on individual consciousness. In general, behavior is still often equalized with action. However, Weber, M (1949) explains that not all behavior is an  action. An action is  meaningful behavior (Weber. M, 1949).  Social action is meaningful behavior directed to other people. Therefore, an environmental action is meaningful behavior targeted to the environment. An action is  duration that lasts in behavior (Schultz. A, 1972). An action is a series of experiences formed through actors’  individual consciousness (Weber.M, 1949; Schultz. A, 1972). Although there is little difference in giving meaning between the two figures, but there is one thing to agree that an action is meaningfully conscious behavior. Any pro-environmental action cannot merely be based on consciousness, but the consciousness should be accompanied by meaning for its actors.

There are many educational activities intended to change students’ behavior so that they possess some sustainable conservation actions. Educational products should be seen in the activities in developing the world society  with the pro-environment. But as a whole, a sustainable development initiated by the UN is said to fail (ICEE, 2007). From the beginning, the failure had been predicted by experts (Hungerford, H. R., and T. L. Volk, 1990; Kollmuss. A, and J. Agyeman. 2002). It is caused by educators’ inadequate ability in managing the environment-based learning (Sukarsono, 2018),  and also by the implementation of the  educational programs that do not refer to  the orientation of behavior and actions to sustainable environmentt (Frisk.E and Larson.K, 2011).

 

Activities in learning environment in schools in Indonesia are carried out in two approaches: 1) the environmental materials are integrated with school curriculum, and 2) monolithic curriculum serve  as environmental curriculum . The two models have been being adopted up to now. However, the biggest complaint given by school teachers that should treat the environment as a mainstream in their learning activities is their difficulty in integrating the environmental materials into subjects or learning themes (Afandi Rifki, 2013; Kadorodasih, 2017; Eka Puspitasari, et al., 2016; Sudjoko, 2014; Sukarsono, 2018; Shanta Rezkita, 2018).

This difficulty is worsened by their inability in implanting environmental values into learning materials. It is also the case of the topic on a water cycle. The fact in the field shows that teachers merely present the learning materials in a one-way fashion. Students are passive. All learning activities are conducted of which teachers become the center in the learning process. Knowledge, consciousness  and values obtained by students will be limited since all depend on the knowledge and the scenario mastered by the teachers. It is difficult for students to have some awareness and values needed to build pro-environmental behavior and actions from such a teaching-learning process . Some experts say that knowledge which does not have values  will not be able to build any awareness, and any behavior which does not own values will not bear any actions. Knowledge improvement does not mean changes in behavior(Schultz.A, 2002).

 

Conservation-Based Learning Model

The term conservation in various dictionaries shows almost the same matter, namely, it is a noun which means preservation or protection.  A Large Dictionary  of the Indonesian Language explains the term conservation as a form of maintaining and protecting something regularly to avoid any damage or extinction by preserving; preservation (KBBI, 2019).

Conservation gets special attention from Indonesian government and society.  This   This can be seen from a  special law on Conservation (Law Number 5 year 1990) and The Government Regulation Number 18 year 1994, Number 68 year 1998, Number 7 year 1999, and Number 8 year 1999. The laws and the Government regulations of the Republic of Indonesia on Conservation have  three main principles: protection, preservation and sustainable utilization.

A conservation-based Learning model is better  known by teachers and supervisors at schools as a CBL model. This model is proposed by Sukarsono (2018) as a response to various problems in  environmental learning at schools in Indonesia. One of the greatest problems in implementing the environmental learning is teachers’ low ability in integrating either concepts or principles of  environment into learning materials (Afandi Rifki, 2013; Shanta Rezkita and Kristi Wardani, 2018; Kadorodasih, 2017; Eka Puspitasari, et al, 2016; Sudjoko, 2014). Their low ability may impact  students’ low ability in mastering environmental concepts. Referring to ideas proposed by Weber (1949) and Schultz (1972), the implementation of education will fail in building valuable awareness, and actions,  or behavior. No action made from learning results also means that the learning process is also unsuccessful.

The CBL model determines four main steps (syntax) to solve the failure: 1) Identifying and strengthening concepts of learning materials; 2) Integrating values of conservation; finding values and characters of conservation; 3) Identifying problems and ideas of   problem solving; 4) Arranging  plans of activities or actions; Planning solutions/Scientific Products (scientific papers, works of art-technology, activities or actions of conservation); and 5) Giving follow-up and evaluation (Sukarsono, 2018).

 

METHODS

This research was carried out using a quasi-experimental method. Student population was from three area namely Malang city. Malang regency, and Batu city, East Java province. The sample was randomly taken namely two schools from each city.  For each school, two classes, for the control and experimental groups, were determined. The number of students involved in this research was 396 students, consisting of 196 students as the control class, and 200 students as the experimental class.

A control class is a class applying a learning model which is usually adopted by teachers (called the common classes). While, an experimental class is a class taught using a CBL model (called CBL classes). The differences in the learning steps between the common and the CBL model are presented in Table 1.

 

Table 1. Comparison between common and CBL model in learning  water cycle literacy

No Common Model CBL Model
1 Delivering information on a  water cycle identification and reinforcement of concepts on a  water cycle
2 Discussing and answering questions in the learning guide book An Integration of Values of Conservation into learning  Materials
3 Discussing problems provided by teachers and their solutions. Formulating problems and their solutions by students
4 Evaluation Formulating plans of activities in line with the students’ problems and interests
5 Implementing activities and evaluation

Source: Sukarsono (2019)

The materials on  a water cycle in the 2013 curriculum are presented in class X semester 2. The basic competence determined by the governments is to analyze a  hydrosphere and its impacts on life on the earth. In general, teachers in the three cities implemented learning activities using lecturing and discussion methods. When problems that should be solved by students exists, the students usually came from teachers. Two out of six classes applied a project method, namely making hydrosphere mockups. Whereas, in the experimental class, steps of learning with the CBL model were used. The stages emphasized an integration of conversational values into learning materials, so that students could find problems about water cycle by themselves, families and or societies. On the basis of the problems, students formulated solutions.  The solutions made could be in the form of actions, scientific papers or products dealing with a water cycle.

 

For the benefits of this research, a water cycle literacy guide using the criteria summarized by the researchers on the basis of the ideas from some experts and policies in some countries was used. The ideas and the policies are presented by  Hines, et al (2014);  National Curriculum Council  proposed by Palmer, J. A. & Neil, Philip, (1994), North American Association for Environmental Education  presented by McBride, et al (2013), NSF (2019) and proposal given by Deswari N (2019). The result of the summary is  presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Aspects of Water Cycle Literacy

No Aspects  of Literacy Indicator
1 Knowledge of Water cycle a. Understanding of water cycle (components, process, etc)

b. Anything dealing with water cycle (social, economic, etc.)

c. Factors influencing water cycle

d.Issues on  local and global water cycle

e. Water cycle – Human beings

f.  Knowledge of action strategy

2 Values of  Water cycle a. Respect to water

b. Respect to the existence and process of water cycle

c. Respect to components of ecosystem in water cycle

d. Respect to water cycle for oneself and life

e. Respect to policy on water cycle

f.  Respect to knowledge, attitude and behavior

3 Attitudes towardsWater cycle a. Having sensitiveness and appreciation to water cycle

b. Being focused on problems of water cycle

c. Caring for water cycle

d. Being responsible for the preservation of water cycle

e. Being responsive to problems in water cycle.

f.  Having awareness of preservation

g. Respecting others’ opinions about water cycle

h. Having a desire to bring some changes in the problems of water cycle

4 Cognitive Skills in Water cycle a. Identifying, defining, and/or analyzing problems of water cycle, synthesizing and evaluating issues in water cycle from various sources

b.Looking for information related to water cycle

c. Communicating problems of water cycle

d.Planning collaborations

e. Being skillful in choosing strategies of applying the concept of ecology

f.  Solving problems of water cycle

g.Being skillful in finding issues and solutions concerned

h.Participating in making policies of water cycle

5 Skills  acted on conserving Water cycle a. Participating in  activities dealing with Participating in water cycle

b.Making relevant actions

c. Making collaborations

d.Making investigations and scientific analyses related to water cycle

e. Doing proper actions and making evaluations

Source: Sukarsono (2019)

 

Quantitative data collected were data on the frequency of literacy numbers possessed by students from 33 literacy aspects as presented in Table 2. While. Qualitative data were obtained from interviews and discussions during the teaching-learning processes.

DATA ANALYSIS

Data collection was done by using a non-test method through observations and interviews. Results of observations showed the frequency and aspects of literacy owned by students.  The average frequency of literacy aspects from the control and experimental groups was sought to analyze the normality and homogeneity using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test. Then, to understand whether there would be a difference in the average frequency between the control and the experimental groups, an Independent Samples Test was carried out. Qualitative data from each literacy aspect was used to support descriptions of quantitative data. Data from the results of analyses are presented in the forms of tables, bar chars accompanied by description.

 

RESEARCH RESULTS 

Data on frequency of ownership of literacy aspects of water cycle in the common and CBL classes and the difference between the two are shown in Picture 1.

Picture 1. Average frequency of each  water cycle literacy aspect of students in common and CBL classes

 

In general, average frequency in each literacy aspect in the CBL class was   higher than that of the common class. Knowledge aspects occupied the highest order of literacy, either in the common class or the CBL class. The frequency of aspects of values, attitudes and cognitive behavior and its skill behavior was almost the same in the CBL class, while in the common class, the frequency tended to decrease. The difference in the frequency of water cycle literacy was increasing in the CBL class from terms of the knowledge aspects to behavior skills (consecutively 45.7, 46.8, 46.8, 58.5, and 75.4)

The results of the normality and homogeneity tests using the One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test showed that all data were normal and homogenous. From the results of the data analysis using an Independent Samples Test, a significance value of 0.000 was obtained. This showed that a learning treatment using the CBL model significantly affected students’ ownership of literacy aspects of a water cycle (sig 0.000 < 0.05). A summary of the data of statistics analysis is presented in Table 3.

 

Table 3. A summary of data statistics analysis

 

Table 3.a Group Statistics

Class N Mean Std. Deviatiom Std. Error

Mean

Common Class

CBL Class

33

33

49.242

103.000

41.0602

39.6508

7.1477

6.9023

 

Table 3.b Independent Samples Test (t-test for Equality of Means)

95% Confidence interval of the Difference
t df Sig (2-tailed) Mean Difference Std. error Difference Lower Upper
Equal vatiance assumed -5.410 64 .000 -53.7576 9.9364 -73.6077 -33.9074
Equal vatiance not assumed -5.410 63.922 .000 -53.7576 9.9364 -73.6082 -33.9070

 

 

Literacy of the Knowledge Aspect of Water Cycle 

The research results showed that the percentage of the ownership of water cycle literacy in the students from the CBL class was higher than that of the common class. Water cycle literacy in the two groups was highest in the knowledge aspect. This aspect is highest since the learning activities in the two classes contain the stage of strengthening concepts. The activities in strengthening the concepts were conducted in various ways from lecturing, reading, watching videos, questions and answers, and the like.

The common class model emphasized  learning cognitive aspects; the mastery of concepts on a water cycle. To understand the water cycle better, the students in the two common classes were obliged to make mock-ups on the land hydrology system or water purification. Students’ literacy  from the common class group concerning the knowledge aspects was focused on the literacy on concepts of a water cycle, ecosystem components and its impacts as stated in the guide book. While in the CBL class, the students obtained new concepts out of the guide book, for instance, something about a humans-water cycle. Concepts of humans-water cycle were given serious attention from students since it is directly related to themselves, families, and society around them.

Water cycle literacy in the knowledge aspect is owned by two research classes around definitions, orders or components of awater cycle, the causes and disturbances of the water cycle. Some examples of statements in the two classes are among others as follows: 1) indicators of orders  a water cycle are : evaporation, transpiration, evapotranspiration, sublimation, condensation, advection, precipitation, run-off, and infiltration”; 2) indicators of water cycle components: “If the forest is destructed, the woods are cut down, floods and land-sliding will occur”; 3) indicators of water cycle disturbances; “Air pollution will increase the air temperature, and this increases the evaporation and it can result in flood”

Statements of water cycle literacy in the CBL class which were not found in the common class were on a human-water cycle. The examples of such a student’s statements areas follows: 1) indicators of human-water cycle:“We use water, we utilize water, and throw away its pollutant to the river than it flows into the sea and then it enters into a water cycle” or “Water rests in one’s body. From the body, it is released to the river.”

 

Literacy of the Value Aspect of Water Cycle

Ownership of value aspect literacy of a water cycle in the common class was lower than that of the CBL class. The difference is almost three-fold. A great difference in the literacy of this value aspect possibly occurs because the common class did not explicitly make either the step of exploration or integration of the values into  learning materials. No specific stage of integrating the conservation values into the learning materials caused low ownership of value aspect literacy in the students. Statements of the water cycle literacy value ranged from respect to water for humans and the cycle processes that should be kept. Some statements are among others as follows:

 

“When the trees in mount Arjuno are cut down, flood will happen, all wetland, gardens, live-stocks, bridges will be washed away by the floods” (1.b)

“The tree has better benefits to absorb water to the land. So, if you want to plant a tree, it is better if the tree may absorb water into the land” (1.i)

“If artificial rain may ruin and disturb water cycle, why does the government do it…?” (1.j)

 

The success of integrating conservation values into the subject matter will make students more interested in the subject matter. Likewise, the attitude that is built up in students will be better.

 

Literacy of Attitude Aspect of Water Cycle 

The attitude aspect of water cycle literacy in CBL classes is higher than that of common classes. This situation is very natural to happen, considering a person’s attitude will depend on the values that are owned by that person. The better a person’s assessment of something, the better their attitude towards that thing.  An attitude statement was usually made by students after they felt some values of a  water cycle for them. The CBL class did the step of integrating conservation values, while the general class did not.

Data on  attitude literacy explored using open worksheets enabled  students to show their attitude spontaneously. This spontaneous attitude was considered to be stronger and to reflect their real attitude compared with the list of attitudes provided by the researchers and that should be chosen by the students. The statements of attitude literacy are among others:

“Our school should have bio-pores so that rain waters return to the land and no puddles are found” (2.d)

 

“Water from the bathroom or from tap water may be reused for example, to water plants, fill in the fish pond, don’t throw it away to the ditch.” (2.b)

 

Literacy of Cognitive Skill Aspect of Water Cycle

Cognitive skills of water cycle literacy in the common class was lower than CBL class. The number of the common class practicing the water cycle was just two out of twelve classes examined. While four other classes did not practice the activities and just stopped in the discussion activities.

Cognitive skilsl of water cycle literacy in the common class emerged in two schools due to practicing activities designed by the teachers. The activities were to make  hydrology mockups  and  sample tools of water purification. The design of the water purification tool and the  hydrology mockups had been made by the teachers, but students should also make imitations. The skill of imitating includes a cognitive skill although it is at the low level. During the discussion, the common class also showed some cognitive thinking skills to solve problems. But, the problems discussed had been provided by the teachers. Students should also respond to the problems and give a solution leading to the activities of water purification or making the hydrology mockups. One unsatisfactory thing happened when the teacher was asked by the researchers he made such a tool, but he answered that “what is important here is that there is an activity, it is better than not.”

The CBL class guided students to be able to find problems interesting and important for themselves, their families and their environment. That is why, when they had found something attracting and significant for themselves and their environment, their cognitive skill woud be forced to think of something giving solutions.

Besides its number, cognitive skills literacy in the CBL class was also varied than the common class. In each group, even most individuals had opinions, suggestions or proposals of activities dealing with the water cycle. Some of the statements are for examples as follows:

“what we are able to make at school is to make  programs for school, class, or house, for example, we may make bio-pores, or others (3.c)

“We should save water, in the ablution water in the mosques, for instance, should be given a reading “Save water”. This may also be placed in the toilets and the bathrooms.” (3.d)

“Good. Water from the ablution water or the bathroom can be used to water plants, fill in ponds, so don’t be thrown away.” (3.g)

“Plant trees so that this school is not always hot and when it is raining, it will not cause a flood.” (3.e)

“Good, the water should be clean, ok? It will later be good for human health, it will not cause diseases. We should keep the water clean.” (3.a)

 

Literacy of Conservation Action Skill of Water Cycle 

What is striking resided in the aspect of the action behavior in the common school which was  very small than the CBL class. The learning model that had been applied in the class up to the time literacy of knowledge literacy instead of values, attitude,s and behavior. The behavior shown tended to be the cognitive behavior designed by the teachers, but it gave little impact on the real behavior needed by the environment itself. For example, in the two common classes, the teachers prepared activities of purifying water and making hydrology mockups. These two activities were simulative in nature and should be asked about their direct roles in students’ real life. Skills produced by students were not any action that is based on   students’ awareness, but the one encouraged by the teachers’ expectation which are not certainly agreed and needed by students. In the CBL class, students’ cognitive skills were highly because they themselves who have their real interest and problems in their real life. On the basis of their interest and problems, students looked for solutions that would give direct impacts on their life.

Water cycle literacy in the form of the behavior of action in the CBL group could be identified in all classes. The form of the product of learning  water cycle literacy was decided by the students themselves to  become group and class activities. The forms of the learning products were classified into three namely  writing scientific papers, making products or implementing activities. Several actions literacy decided by the students are harvesting rainwater by making bio-pores, holding ablution water to fulfill the need for water to water plants, campaigning water saving at school, making papers, reports of visitation to the factory producing packaged freshwater and planting fruit tree seeds at school.

The plan of the students’ actions in the common class greatly led to actions guided by the teachers. These activities emerged from a question asked by the teacher to the students about what should they do when water pollution happens. The question is from the results of the explanation about the disturbance to the water cycle due to pollution.

 

DISCUSSION

Water cycle literacy between students in the common class and the CBL class quantitatively was different. The CBL class, on average, showed a high frequency of indicators than the common class. The CBL model respected and emphasized that the topic learned had important or very vital values for students. Teachers or lecturers have to facilitate their students to find by themselves the values contained in each learning material.

The topic of the water cycle must be discovered and understood by students as events that involve themselves, and not just as natural events that are outside of themselves. The tendency of humans to pay more attention to themselves compared to nature, will influence the risk and environmental management, including in the water cycle.(IUCN, 2008).

The CBL model stimulates students to find their own interests and problems. For students, to really understand and may accept the science, they should work to solve problems, discover something for themselves, and always work on ideas. The task of education does not only pour a number of information to students’ brainbut also try to implant important and vital concepts in them  strongly (Kamil Mustofa, 2017).

Learning activities using CBL model considers students to have owned literacy from their daily experiences, either from their school or environment. A bit of information will have a place in the learning activities and each student has a right to associate the obtained information to the new literacy (Bruce Joyce et al., 2011). The fact causes the students in the groups using the CBL group to possess a more complex water cycle literacy than those in the common class group.

A striking difference between the common class and the CBL class may be found in the value, attitude, and skill aspects. This has been explained by some experts that in general, some improvements in knowledge do not mean to result in changes in behavior if it is not accompanied by values (Schultz. 2002). Moreover, two-way intensive learning activities greatly affect students’ desire to think and to be active in learning.

 

CONCLUSION 

Water cycle literacy among secondary high school students may be significantly developed through the application of the CBL model. Improving literacy covers the mastery of concepts and the emergence of conservation values in the students. Any values emerging from the students about a  water cycle include intrinsic and extrinsic values. The values are predicted to bear students’ behavior and action, which are the pro-water cycle. It is expected that the application of the CBL model in the material of the water cycle will result in any action which is pro-environment sustainably.

The CBL model that has been tried out in the limited scale in three cities in East Java province Indonesia is expected to be well responded and applied in other cities and provinces in Indonesia. More widely, this model application program will be able to be tried out in other countries that have strong concern with the future of human beings and this planet as a habitat for living together.

An ability to build values since the beginning of the learning activities will be able to promote the students to possess the attitude and cognitive skills needed through materials taught. Any sustainable action may be expected to be born from the values and attitude build in the students, therefore so that improvement in the water cycle literacy will not only occur to the knowledge aspect but also to the value, attitude and sustainable behavior aspects.

 

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the research conducted in three cities in East Java, it is suggested that the CBL learning model possess potency to help teachers and students attain their learning goals especially in water cycle literacy. Learning characteristics of the CBL model enabling to help teachers and students dig out values, attitudes and behavior, pro-environment will promote a more conducive learning process. This effort is expected to be one of the answers to the UN’s suggestion that the world community looks for various new models in learning activities to support sustainable development.

 

 

 

REFERENCES

 

Afandi Rifki. (2013). Integration of Environmental Education Through Ips Learning in Elementary Schools as an Alternative to Creating Green Schools. Pedagogy Vol. 2, No. 1, February 2013: Pages 98-108.

Al-Ansari Nadhir, Ammar A. Ali, Sven Knutsson. (2014). Present Conditions and Future Challenges of Water Resources Problems in Iraq. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 2014, 6, 1066-1098. Availlable in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/jwarp. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2014.612102

Anderson, Allison. (2013). Learning to Be Resilient Global Citizens for a Sustainable World. Background paper prepared for the Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2013/4

Blessing, 2012; Blessing, Igbokwe, A. (2012). Environmental Literacy Assessment: Exploring the Potential for the Assessment of Environmental Education/Programs in Ontario Schools. International Journal for Cross-Disciplinary Subjects in Education (IJCDSE), Volume 3, Issue 1, March 2012.

BNSP. (2010).  National Education Paradigm 21st Century.  Badan Standar Nasional Pendidikan Versi 1.0 Tahun 2010. Jakarta.

Bridgewater P, E Guarino, and RM Thompson (2018). Hydrology in the Anthropocene. University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Elsevier Inc.

Bruce Joyce etal. (2011). Models of Teaching. Pustaka Pelajar Bandung.

Callicott, B. (1989).  In Defense of the Land Ethic: Essays in Environmental Philosophy. Albany, NY: State University Press of New York Press.

Daily G, editor. (1997). Nature’s services: societal dependence on natural ecosystems. Island Press, Washington, D.C.

Deswari Nurul, (2018). Improving Environmental Literacy of Students through IPs in Primary Schools. Indonesian Education University Paper. https://www.academia.edu/ 7570960. Accessed 17th oct 2019.

Eka Puspitasari, Sumarmi, Ach Amirudin. (2016). Integration of Critical Thinking and Environmental Care Through Geography Learning in Shaping the Character of High School Students. Theory, Research and Development Volume: 1 Number: 2 in February 2016. Pages: 122-126.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, (2019). Water cycle. https://www.britannica.com/ science/water-cycle.

Fishbein, M, and I. Ajzen. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: An introducion to
theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Frisk, E., and K. Larson. (2011).  Educating for sustainability: Competencies & practices for transformative action. J. Sustain. Educ. 2:1–20.

Hampicke Ulrich. (1994). Ethics and economics of Conservation. Biologycal Conservation. 67 (1994) 219-231.

Hines, et al. (2004). Global Issues and Environmental Education. (http//www.eriese.org/erie/ digest-05/html). Accessed  Oct 12th 2019.

Hungerford, H. R., and T. L. Volk. (1990). Changing learner behavior through environmental education. J. Environ. Educ. 21(3):8–22.

ICEE. (2007).  The Ahmedabad Declaration 2007: A Call to Action; Education for Life; Life through Education. 4th International Conference on Environmental Education. United Nation. Ahmedabad. India.

IUCN (2008). How Does Climate Change Affect The Water Cycle?.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 29, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2008/10/081013143031.htm

Kadorodasih. (2017).  The Implementation Of Environmental Education Through Adiwiyata Program In Elementary School Of Giwangan Yogyakarta. Jurnal Hanata Widya Volume 6 Nomor 4 Tahun 2017. Hlm 43-53.

Kamil, Mustofa. (2017). Theoretical foundation in the Development of Learning Models. Paper UPI Bandung. file.upi.edu › SPS › landasan_teori_pembelajaran.

Kerry. (2013). Conservation Values & Ethics. https://www.slideserve.com/kerry/ conservation-values-ethics. Uploaded on Feb 27, 2013

KKBI. (2019). Konservasi. Online Indonesia Dictionary. https://kbbi.web.id/konservasi. Accesed Oct 15th. 2019.

Kollmuss, A., and J. Agyeman. (2002). Mind the gap: Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior? Environ. Educ. Res. 8(3):239–260.

McBride, et al. (2013). Environmental Literacy, ecological literacy, ecolitercy: What do we mean and how did we get here?. Journal from Ecosphere 4(5):67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES13-00075.1. diakses 16 April 2015, 7.14 AM

Mulford, B. (2008). The leadership challenge: improving learning in schools. Australian Education Review. Victoria: ACER Press.

NASA. (2019). Human Impacts on the Global Water Cycle: Effects on Sea-Level and Climate. https://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/briefs/gornitz_02/. Accesed Oct 15th. 2019.

National Geographics. (2019). Wayer Cycle. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/water-cycle/. Accessed Oct 20th2019.

National Research Council. (2012). Challenges and Opportunities in the Hydrologic Sciences. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13293.

NOAA. (2019). Water Cycle. Download from https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/freshwater-education-resources/water-cycle (Updated February 2019). Accessed at 12th October 2019.

Norton, Bryan. (1992). Sustainability, Human Welfare and Ecosystem Health. Environmental Values 1, no. 2, (1992): 97–111. doi:10.3197/096327192776680133.

NSF. (2019). Human Water Cycle.  National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA.  https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/human_water_cycle/index.jsp

Palmer, J. A. (1998). Environmental Education in the 21st Century: Theory, Practice, Progress and Promise. London: Routledge

Palmer, J. A. & Neil, Philip, (1994). The Handbook of Environmental Education. London: Routledge

Poudel Shobha, Shinya Funakawa and Hitoshi Shinjo. (2017). Household Perceptions about the Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security in the Mountainous Region of Nepal. Sustainability 2017, 9, 641.

Qureshi M. Ejaz, Munir A. Hanjra A (2010). Global water crisis and future food security in an era of climate change. Food Policy 35 (2010) 365–377.

Rolston, H. (1986). Philosophy Gone Wild: Essays in Environmental Ethics. Amherst, NY: Prometheus.

Royyani, Hastri. (2017). Climate Change Impacts, Clean Water Crisis in Indonesia. https://www.itb.ac.id/news/3177.xhtml. Diunduh tanggal 23 Maret 2017.

Palmer, J. & Neal, P. (1994). The handbook of environmental education. London:
Routledge.

Schutz, Alfred. (2012). Theory Action Reconstruction of Max Weber . Jurnal Pemikiran Sosiologi Volume 1 No.2, November 2012.

Sandler, R. (2012) Intrinsic Value, Ecology, and Conservation. Nature Education Knowledge 3(10):4

Satria. (2011). Food Crisis and Hunger Danger Threatens World. https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/3805-krisis.pangan.dan.bahaya.kelaparan.ancam.dunia. Diunduh tanggal 24 Maret 2014.

Schutz, A. (1972). The Phenomenology of Social World,United States of America: Northwestern University Press.

Shanta Rezkita and Kristi Wardani. (2018). Integrating Environmental Education Shaping Character of Environmental Care Character in Elementary Schools. Trihayu: Journal of Primary and Secondary Education, Vol. 4, Number 2, January 2018, p. 327-331

Sudjoko. (2014). Development and Basic Concepts of Environmental Education. PEBI4223/ MODUL 1: Environmental Education. Indonesia Open University.

Sukarsono. (2018). Conservation based Learning Models: Teachers handbook. University of Muhammadiyah Malang.

Sukarsono. (2019). Application of conservation-based learning models to improve teacher professionalism and student achievement. Research report. University of Muhammadiyah Malang.

UNDP, (2007). Human Development Report 2006 – Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty

and the Global Water Crisis. United Nations Development Programme, New York.

Weber, M. (1949). The Methodology of Social Sciences. New York: The Free Press

 

| | PRINT: print




Comments (12)

  1. Yusuf Aditya K. says:

    Peningkatan nilai, sikap, pemikiran, dan keterampilan akting dalam siklus air di kelas CBL lebih tinggi dari pada kelas umum, di karenakan pada kelas CBL pembelajaran dilakukan dengan lebih terstruktur dan CBL mempunyai 4 langkah utama yang membuat siswa menemukan masalah dan bisa mengatasi masalah tersebut

  2. Ulik says:

    arttikel ini membantu kami untuk mempelajari bahwa metode pembelajaran dapat digabungkan dengan sumber daya alam guna memperdalam dan memberi pengalaman pengetahuan bagi siswa.

  3. Dewi Rianingsih says:

    Artikel ini sangat bagus sekali, karena sangat berguna untuk pengajaran dengan menggunakan sumber daya alam yang ada

  4. Rimtha Zalsalina says:

    Model pembelajaran CBL (Conservation Based Learning) merupakan salah satu model pembelajaran yang mengintegrasikan mata pelajaran (bisa IPA atau mata pelajaran lain) dengan konservasi manusia dan lingkungan disekitarnya. Model ini sangat membantu dalam meningkatkan motivasi belajar dan prestasi belajar IPA. Saya sudah menggunakan model CBL dalam pembelajaran Listrik Statis, sehingga saya tuliskan dalam bentuk karya PTK, terima kasih Pak Sukarsono yang telah memberikan pengetahuan nya kepada kami.

  5. Galuh Palupi says:

    Kesadaran terhadap penyelamatan lingkungan perlu dibangun dalam kegiatan pembelajaran. Model Pembelajaran CBL ini membimbing siswa menemukan masalah bagaimana menyelamatkan lingkungan sehingga dengan model pembelajaran CBL yang diterapkan mampu memberikan dampak dan kegiatan yang bermakna dari dan oleh siswa. Model ini layak untuk dicoba dan digunakan untuk materi lingkungan di tingkat menengah pertama supaya pembelajaran konstektualnya dapat diberikan kepada siswa sebagai upaya untuk menanamkan pro-lingkungan dan melatih perilaku yang dapat melindungi ekosistem sejak dini.

  6. Model G. Rumperiai says:

    Suatu karya ilmiah yang sangat baik dan bermanfaat.

  7. Sukarsono Sukarsono Sukarsono Sukarsono says:

    terimakasih komen nya mas.. Semoga bisa kita kembangkan ke masa depan untuk generasi yang peduli yang prestatif termasuk dalam konservasi lingkungan

  8. Sukarsono Sukarsono Sukarsono Sukarsono says:

    terimakasih mbak Palupi… Siap diskusi jika ada masalah

  9. Sukarsono Sukarsono Sukarsono Sukarsono says:

    Bersyukur jika konservasi bisa digahami secara lebih luas untuk menyelamatkan manusia, yang berarti juga menyelamatkan lingkungan. Terimakasih mbak.Semangat selalu

  10. Sukarsono Sukarsono Sukarsono Sukarsono says:

    Terimakasih mbak Ulik… Kembangkan di S3 juga ya…

  11. Arasti says:

    Artikel ini sangat bagus dan bermanfaat dalam metode pembelajaran yang memberikan pengalaman dan pengetahuan secara langsung kepada siswa sehingga dapat meningkatkan nilai keterampilan melalui materi yang diajarkan.

  12. Sukarsono Sukarsono Sukarsono Sukarsono says:

    Terimakasih .. Semoga bisa membantu peningkatan hasil belajar siswa. Aamiinn