Students are naive in analyzing physics concepts: An ethnophysical study of the Tanimbar Islands community, Indonesia

Abstract

Through various policies, the Indonesian government has encouraged community culture to be included in the school curriculum, which is integrated into relevant subjects. One is physics learning, which is packaged with the term ethnophysics. The study of culture, local wisdom, and local potential in Indonesia has grown in recent years. However, more research needs to be done on physics learning so it impacts students' academic achievement. One of them is that students still need to be made aware of conceptual building, so they cannot explain a physics concept scientifically. This study aims to explore the nature and structure of students' naïve knowledge of physics and, more specifically, their understanding of physics parameters at work. This research is a qualitative study for students related to the concept of Keku. The results show that naivstudents are naive when constructing concepts related to Keku. Therefore, by direct teaching, teachers straighten out physics concepts related to Keku culture so that students can understand completely. As for the future, it is important to examine further students' prior knowledge related to emotional literacy, physics communication skills, and learning activities in development to overcome naive conceptions and misconceptions.