The Effectiveness of the Problem Based Learning Model Assisted by News on Ecosystem Material on Students Conceptual Understanding and Collaboration Skills at SMAN 6 Tangerang

Abstract

Students' low concept understanding and collaboration skills are one of the problems in the learning process, students still cannot formulate solutions to problems given by the teacher and cannot collaborate well. The Merdeka Curriculum can be an alternative solution to change learning to be more innovative and student-focused. One of the key aspects of the Merdeka Curriculum is its emphasis on problem-solving oriented learning related to real-life situations and the development of collaboration through joint problem solving, namely through the use of the news-assisted Problem Based Learning model. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of news-assisted Problem Based Learning on students' conceptual understanding and collaborative skills. The method used in this study is quantitative, located at SMAN 6 Tangerang. The population in this study is all 10th grade students at SMA Negeri 6 Tangerang in the academic year 2025/2026. The research sample was taken using purposive sampling techniques. The research method used was a pre-experimental method with a One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design. This study was conducted by measuring concept understanding using a test sheet administered before the treatment (pretest) and after the treatment (posttest), measuring collaboration skills using an observation sheet conducted by an observer, a student response questionnaire on the learning model, and a learning implementation assessment sheet conducted by the biology teacher. The results of this study are: (1) there was an increase in KKTP ecosystem material after treatment, namely 79%, (2) the N-Gain value was 0.63, which is in the moderate category, (3) there was an increase in collaboration at each meeting, and (4) the results of student responses to news-assisted Problem Based Learning showed a score of 82%, which is in the very good category.  Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the news-assisted Problem-Based Learning model for ecosystem material is effective in enhancing students' conceptual understanding and collaborative skills.