Problem Based Learning To Developed Student Character in Biology Classrom

Development of students’ character in learning processes is important as weel as the effort to improve students’ cognitive and skills. In biology learning, development of students’ character can be conducted by applying the appropriate teaching strategy. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is one of the teaching strategies which is potential to develop students’ character. This research was a quasi-experimental design to uncover difference of character development by applying PBL compared with direct instruction (traditional learning). The research samples were 72 first year students in Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia. Students’ character development was measured by using questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of study. The students’ character was also measured by observation sheet of character during lab session. Research finding indicated that there was no effect of teaching strategy on the students’ character development measured by questionnaire. Different finding was indicated by result of observation, the students taught by PBL showed more increase of character compared with traditional strategy. Based on the fact, lecturers should use PBL to develop students’ character. Others, the future research can consider usage of more accurate measuring instrument of character like behavioral observation sheet by paying attention on its limitation