An integrated laboratory work to improve students' practical skills and attitudes toward biochemistry in the biochemistry course.

This research reports on implementing the integrated laboratory work to achieve effective learning in the biochemistry course. The integrated laboratory work includes three stages: pre-laboratory, lab work, and post-laboratory. In other words, the three stages include planning, implementing, and evaluating investigation activities in the laboratory. The research design used was a posttest control group design consisting of a control and an experimental group. There were 67 students as respondents, who were divided into control (N = 33) and experimental (N = 34) groups. Practical skills were measured using an assessment rubric with the involvement of the observer. The categories of practical skills measured were procedural skills, observation skills, interpretation skills, and reporting skills. Attitude toward biochemistry was measured using a questionnaire with five Likert scales. The indicators of attitudes toward biochemistry used were liking for a biochemistry theory lesson, liking for biochemistry laboratory work, evaluative beliefs about biochemistry, and behavioral tendencies to learn biochemistry. The influence of the implementation of the integrated laboratory work on the students' practical skills and attitudes toward biochemistry was analyzed using MANOVA. The research result shows that implementing the integrated laboratory work improves students' average scores in practical skills and attitudes toward biochemistry. All the practical skills and attitudes categories in the experimental group have a higher score than those in the control group. The reason is that the work of the integrated laboratory can prepare students to conduct better investigations in biochemistry laboratory work.

Exploration of critical thinking and self-regulated learning in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An in-depth analysis of today's online biochemistry learning is required to ensure better learning in the future. As a skill that students need to enter the world of work, critical thinking remains a goal in higher education. To develop critical thinking, students need to self-regulate by developing their self-regulated learning (SRL). This study aims to analyze students' critical thinking and SRL during online biochemistry learning. The research sample comprises 54 University of Mataram students. The data on critical thinking and SRL were gathered using tests and questionnaires. Supporting data were collected from observations on the Moodle platform, which was used as a learning tool during the learning process, and free-response data. The results revealed low average scores for three components of the students' critical thinking in online biochemistry learning, namely hypothesis testing, developing conclusions and argument analysis. Among the indicators, metacognitive skill had the highest average score and help seeking had the lowest average score in the SRL measurement. Students' low critical thinking in online biochemistry learning may be caused by a lack of student-student interaction.

Exploration of the scientific papers and self-assessment of students using the COVID-19 case on biochemistry course.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a case that can be used as a biochemistry learning resource in relation to the topic of viruses. Learning to use cases will be effective if students are assigned to produce reports, articles, or other scientific papers. Self-assessment can be used to assess the competencies that have been learnt in the writing process. This study aims to analyze the scientific papers and self-assessment of students using the COVID-19 pandemic case. It includes qualitative research with scientific paper and self-assessment questionnaire analyses. The research sample was chemistry education study program students (N = 57) following biochemistry course, out of a population of 87 students. The results show that the students have a good understanding of explaining COVID-19. Self-assessment analysis shows that 80% of the students responded positively to eight statements; those who gave positive responses to each questionnaire statement were able to produce scientific papers. Good self-assessment is in line with the ability of students to compile good scientific papers.