THE EFFECTS OF THE PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING INSTRUCTION IN THE TOPIC OF ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY ON LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND SCIENCTIFIC PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY OF GRADE 9 STUDENTS AT TAKPITTAYAKHOM SCHOOL IN TAK PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives of this research were: 1. To compare the learning achievements of grade 9 students who learned by problem-based learning instruction and students who learned by traditional instruction, 2. To compare the scientific problem solving ability of grade 9 students who learned by problem-based learning and students who learned by traditional instruction, and 3. To compare the scientific problem solving abilities of students before and after learning by problem-based learning instruction. The research sample consisted of grade 9, 126 students of 2 Class, obtained by cluster random sampling. The research instruments were lesson plans based on problem-based learning instruction, a learning achievement test and a scientific problem solving ability test. The statistics used for data analysis were the mean, standard deviation, and t-test.

The research findings showed that 1. The learning achievement of students who learned by problem-based learning instruction was higher than the students who learned by traditional instruction, 2. The scientific problem solving ability of students who learned by problem-based learning instruction was higher than students who learned by traditional instruction, 3. The scientific problem solving ability of students who learned by problem-based learning instruction was higher than their pre-learning counterpart ability.