THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIGITAL COMICS IN IMPROVING INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION SKILLS AND STUDENT MOTIVATION

Abstract

In 2020, the world of education in Indonesia experienced a different situation due to the covid-19 virus. Thus, learning higher institutions also changes. The consequence that must be faced by lecturers and students is to start learning from home online. According to Abidah et al (2020), online or digital learning is in line with the era of industrial revolution 4.0 and community 5.0 with many advantages and disadvantages in the learning process. Furthermore, according to Yulia (2020), face-to-face learning has now been replaced by online learning. And that encourages educators to use various learning strategies to complete learning material, provide understanding to students, and improve online learning. One way to make online learning effective for 5th-semester students of biology education FKIP UNPATTI during this pandemic is to use digital comics. According to Azman et al (2014), digital comics are a type of comic that uses technology to maintain quality, reduces physical space for storing books, is a file that is easily shared portable, or downloaded on websites. Wylie (2016) have succeeded in developing digital comics for Engineering Students to improve their abilities. Yulian (2018) also developed e-comicbased digital comics that can improve the quality of learning and are fun, so as to empower students attention in understanding teaching material. The development of comics is based on their nature and types, namely interactive, two-dimensional, dynamic, easy to access, and carry because they are stored on digital devices such as smartphones, and are durable. Peterzen (2011) adds that the main difference is that printed comics have been converted to digital so that they can be read using certain electronic devices. Also, the development of digital comics can attract students to learn. According to Ahmad (2012) elements in comics in the form of images, writings, and humor can attract and engage readers emotions deeply. If comics are made digitally, interactive emotions Abstract. Digital comics are media that support the learning process in the 4.0 era. Digital comics contain the concept of bacteria that is easy for students to understand. The purpose of this study was to analyze the increase in problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and student motivation in learning the concept of bacteria using digital comics. The subjects in this study were 26 third semesters’ students of the biology education program. The comics that are used are digital comics created by researchers using the comic life application. The instruments used were critical thinking test questions and problem-solving and motivation questionnaires. Data analyses were done by using descriptive analysis techniques. The results of the t-test analysis showed that there were differences in students problem solving and critical thinking abilities before and after learning using digital comics Bacterial Characteristics (p <0.05). Meanwhile, student motivation also has differences between the first meeting and the second meeting during learning using digital comics (p <0.05). The use of digital comics can empower students problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and motivation in learning the concept of bacterial characteristics.