Previous research reports mention several learning models which are potential in improving students' thinking skills. This quasi-experimental research aims to determine the difference in critical thinking skills of the students who learned by using inquirydiscovery model and conventional learning model in class X. The treatment of this research was teaching physics by inquiry-discovery model and conventional learning model. The instruments of critical thinking skills were developed by the researcher and validated by an expert prior to use. The results of the research showed that there was a significant difference in the critical thinking skills between the experimental class and the control class. The result of critical thinking skills of the students in the inquirydiscovery class was higher than that of the conventional learning class. The research recommends that teachers empower HOTS ability of the students in the inquirydiscovery class, so that a meaningful learning and student-centered learning can be created. Future researches are needed to explore the contribution of inquiry-discovery model on students' critical thinking skills.

Inquiry-discovery learning plays an important role in improving high-order thinking skills (HOTS) and scientific literacy (SL). In this HOTS and SL research, it was designed with Inquiry-discovery based learning. The purpose of this study was to promote Inquiry discovery models in empowering higher-order thinking skills and scientific literacy in physics with different classes. This research used Quasi-Experimental Design research, and Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design. The research analysis design matrix used two-way ANOVA. The sample was taken from two classes, namely the experimental and control classes of 68 students. The results of the study prove that Inquiry discovery can improve HOTS and SL physics of students. Thus, inquiry-discovery can be recommended to increase student's HOTS and SL physics when compared to conventional classes. The novelty of this study is that inquiry-discovery learning models are more likely to reconstruct students' scientific knowledge of physics on aspects of HOTS and SL with real-world life.

No abstract

<p>Bacterial leaf blight control in rice (Oryza sativa Lin.) using bactericide is prohibitive, due to its high cost and its negative effect on the environment. Biocontrol when avaible, therefore is the best alternative solution. Bacillus subtilis is a perspective of biocontrol agent to control several plant diseases, because of its ability to produce antimicrobial and produce plant growth promoting substances. This research was aimed to examine the effectiveness of B. subtilis spore formulation by way of seed treatments and foliar sprays, using different frequencies and concentrations, to control bacterial leaf blight disease (BLB) on rice, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, and to evaluate its function as plant growth promoter. The experiments were conducted at greenhouse and in the field using factorial design. At the greenhouse experiment, seed treatment and foliar spray, using concentration of 2% produced better result in controlling BLB, and better result on promoting rice plant growth. In the field experiment, application at 2 week interval showed better effect on suppressing the the disease and on increasing yield. Applications of the formulation of B. subtilis B12 spore reduced BLB disease by 21% and potentially increased yield up to 50%.</p>

The blended learning model is a learning that uses online facilities combined with face-to-face learning (synchronous learning-asynchronous learning). The purpose of this research is to develop online learning that can be used by two PGRI universities in Indonesia as an online learning media. This research applies research and development method 4D Thiagarajan (Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate). Data analysis technique used is descriptive qualitative data analysis. The result of this study is an online learning system that can be used by Universitas Kanjuruhan Malang and Universitas PGRI Madiun in Basic Physics course. This system uses the MOODLE (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment), therefore it has the advantage that it is easy to use by all lecturers.

Some research aiming to improve problem-solving skills in physics by various learning models has been performed. So far, there is no comprehensive research that uses Inquiry-discovery learning model to improve problem solving skills (PSS) in physics with the aid of the PhET simulation in the material of kinetic theory of gases. This research aims to investigate the differences of PhET-aided Inquiry-discovery learning using a theoretical review on PSS in the material of kinetic theory of gases between the experimental class and control class. This research is a quasi-experimental study by a post-test only design. The data analysis was performed via a t-test. The analysis results showed students in the experimental get higher PSS class than those in the control class. Also, the students in the experimental class have the highest and lowest initial abilities which were still higher than the students in the control class. Hence, the inquiry-discovery learning model is recommended to enhance students' physics PSS. The implication of this research is to provide information that students can be empowered by inquairy-discovey learning model in improving PSS. Therefore, it is expected that the next researchers can explore students' PSS at each meeting in order to improve students' learning outcomes.

This study identified student's difficulty on doing test about work and energy. This study was conducted on 68 high school students at 11th grade who had took work and energy material. Type of this research was descriptive with survey method. Technique of collecting data was test with 15 items two tier's instruments which have been validated by expert. The student's reasons in answering were used to identify possible causes of errors. Test result showed that the average student's test score is 50.65 with a scale of 100. Common difficulties for students were applying multiplication of the dot product force acting on objects and the movement objects when the movement of objects i s presented through graphs, applying work-kinetic energy theorems, misinterpreting relations of gravity and height of objects on the incline, and determine the graph relation of energy with height object as a description of the movement of objects with par abolic paths and influenced by the external forces of the system. This finding can be used as a reference to overcome student difficulties through appropriate learning strategies.

One way to reduce misconceptions can be overcome by cognitive conflict learning strategies with the help of simulation practicum instead of actual practicum. This study aims to determine whether there are differences in students' misconceptions before and after learning with cognitive conflict strategies as an effort to reduce misconceptions on light material. Research sample of 31 students. Data on the degree of misconception before the study was 0,36 and after doing research was 0.17. The t-paired test results for the mean percentage of students' misconceptions on light material before and after learning differed at a significance level of 0.05. While, the results of N-Gain calculations to student achievement increase in overcoming misconceptions on light material were 0.3, that means the average students' achievement in dealing with misconceptions are in the medium category and cognitive conflict strategies combined with simulation practicum have a strong effect on reducing students' misconceptions on light material with a range of 2.91. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that cognitive conflict strategies combined with simulation practicum can be used to reduce misconceptions that lead to increased student learning achievement. Further research is needed to explore students' misconceptions on other physics topics and can measure student misconceptions at each meeting so that students are more organized and developed in learning.