Development of Learning Tools Based on the Outdoor Learning Mathematics Project Model on Social Arithmetic Topics to Improve Students’ Numeracy Skills

/0 Comments/in /by

Numeracy is one of the essential competencies that students need to solve mathematical problems in real-life situations. However, many junior high school students still experience difficulties in applying mathematical concepts to contextual problems because classroom instruction is predominantly teacher-centered and less connected to authentic learning experiences. Therefore, innovative learning devices integrating the Outdoor Learning Mathematics Project (OLMP) model are needed to promote meaningful learning and improve students’ numeracy skills. This study aimed to develop OLMP-based learning devices on Social Arithmetic material that are valid, practical, and effective in improving junior high school students’ numeracy skills. This research employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach using the modified Four-D (4D) model consisting of the Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate stages. The developed products included teaching modules, student worksheets (LKPD), numeracy test instruments, and a teacher guidebook. The subjects consisted of Grade VII students of SMP Argopuro Panti, Jember. Data were collected through expert validation, classroom observations, questionnaires, interviews, and pretest–posttest numeracy tests. Data analysis included validity, practicality, effectiveness, N-Gain, normality, and independent sample t-test analyses. The developed learning devices achieved a validity score above 3.75 (very valid), a practicality level of 96.5%, and positive responses from students (97%). Students’ learning activities reached 92%, while classical numeracy mastery achieved 86%. Furthermore, the independent sample t-test revealed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05), indicating that the OLMP model significantly improved students’ numeracy skills. The OLMP-based learning devices are valid, practical, and effective for mathematics instruction on Social Arithmetic and significantly enhance junior high school students’ numeracy skills through authentic outdoor learning experiences.

Development and Validation of a Rubric-Based Mobile Scoring Application for Folk Dance Performance Assessment

/0 Comments/in /by

Folk dance performance assessment in Philippine Physical Education is still largely conducted through paper-based rubric scoring, a process that is time-consuming, prone to computation error, and difficult to aggregate across multiple judges. This study developed and validated a rubric-based mobile scoring application for Android intended for Physical Education teachers and competition judges scoring Philippine folk dance performances. The application was built using the ADDIE framework across all five phases: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. It digitizes a five-criterion rubric covering rhythm and timing, technique and execution, expression and artistry, costume and presentation, and synchronization, with automatic weighted score computation, live ranking, and PDF or CSV export. The design was validated by a panel of nine experts drawn from Physical Education master teachers, mobile application developers, and members of the PSHS-CRC Engineering and Research Academic Unit, using a five-domain instrument covering functionality, usability, content and rubric accuracy, visual design, and overall acceptability. The panel rated the application 4.61 out of 5.00 (Highly Acceptable), with a content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) of 0.96. A usability pilot with 20 Physical Education teachers produced a mean System Usability Scale score of 84.6, corresponding to an adjective rating of Excellent and grade A. A reliability comparison scored 30 folk dance performances using both the paper rubric and the application with the same five judges; app-computed and manual totals showed a Pearson correlation of r = 0.994 (p < .001) and a two-way mixed, absolute-agreement intraclass correlation coefficient of ICC = 0.991 (95% CI 0.982 to 0.996), indicating near-perfect agreement. A paired-samples t-test found no significant difference between the two methods (t(29) = 1.42, p = .166), while the application reduced mean scoring-and-tally time per performance from 4.7 minutes to 1.3 minutes. The validated application is a complete, reusable, and empirically supported tool that resolves the multi-judge, low-connectivity constraints of live folk dance scoring, and it is now suitable for institutional adoption at PSHS-CRC with continued monitoring.

Phosphate Removal from Laundry Wastewater Using a Hybrid Biofilter–Phytoremediation System with Broken Roof Tile Media and Chlorella sp.

/0 Comments/in /by

Laundry wastewater is one of the primary sources of phosphate discharge into aquatic environments due to the extensive use of phosphate-based detergents. Excessive phosphate concentrations in aquatic environments can accelerate eutrophication, leading to excessive algal growth, depletion of dissolved oxygen, and ecological imbalance. Therefore, there is a need to develop an efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly treatment system. This study evaluated the performance of a hybrid biofilter-phytoremediation system using broken roof tiles as the biofilter medium and Chlorella sp. as the phytoremediation agent to reduce phosphate levels in laundry wastewater. The experiment consisted of three treatment groups: wastewater (control), a biofilter with microalgae (BF+MA), and a biofilter containing broken roof tile fragments combined with microalgae (BFg+MA). Wastewater quality was monitored through several sampling periods, and phosphate concentration was analyzed as the primary parameter. Supporting parameters, including pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, total suspended solids, and temperature, were also evaluated. The data were analyzed using Welch’s ANOVA to assess differences among treatments. When significant differences were found, the analysis was continued with the Games–Howell post hoc test at a 95% confidence level (α = 0.05). The results showed that the hybrid system effectively reduced phosphate concentrations in laundry wastewater. Phosphate removal was attributed to adsorption by the broken roof tile media, microbial activity within the biofilm, and nutrient assimilation by Chlorella sp. Changes in supporting water quality parameters indicated favorable conditions for biological and physicochemical treatment processes. These findings suggest that the hybrid biofilter-phytoremediation system has significant potential as a sustainable and low-cost alternative for laundry wastewater treatment.

Drivers of Goat-Coffee Integrated Farming System Adoption in East Java, Indonesia: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Approach

/0 Comments/in /by

Integrated farming systems are increasingly promoted as farm-level strategies to improve resource-use efficiency, reduce dependence on external inputs, and strengthen smallholder resilience. In coffee-based farming areas, goat–coffee integration offers a circular model in which goat manure can be processed as organic fertilizer for coffee plantations, while farm vegetation and surrounding biomass may support livestock feed availability. This study examines the behavioral determinants of farmers’ intention and adoption of goat–coffee integrated farming systems in East Java, Indonesia, using an extended Theory of Planned Behavior framework. Survey data were collected from 230 coffee farmers in Madiun (n = 110) and Bondowoso (n = 120) and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling with SmartPLS 3.0. The results show that the model explained 56.9% of the variance in intention and 58.1% of the variance in adoption. Attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, injunctive group norms, and descriptive group norms positively and significantly influenced intention. Adoption was directly and significantly influenced by intention, perceived behavioral control, descriptive group norms, and attitude, whereas subjective norms and injunctive group norms had no significant direct effect on adoption. All indirect effects through intention were significant. These findings indicate that adoption is shaped by both motivational and implementation-capacity pathways. Extension programs should therefore combine benefit communication, peer-based demonstration, farmer-group mobilization, and practical assistance in manure processing, feed planning, and low-labor integration practices.

Community-Based Diagnostic Strategies to Reduce New Pulmonary Tuberculosis Cases in Babakan Village, Indonesia

/0 Comments/in /by

Tuberculosis of the lungs (TB) is a persistent infectious condition that arises when the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis establishes itself in the body. Although the lungs are typically the first site affected, the infection can migrate to various organs and produce non-pulmonary forms of TB. The illness spreads when tiny particles containing the bacteria are released into the air during activities such as speaking, coughing, or sneezing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023), an estimated 10.8 million new cases and about 1.25 million deaths were attributed to TB globally. Indonesia continues to face a substantial burden from pulmonary TB, ranking among the top three countries with the greatest number of cases (Ministry of Health, 2023). In the service area of the Legok Health Center, 111 individuals were recorded as having pulmonary TB, with Babakan Village reporting the highest count at 20 cases. Community assessment utilized the Blum Paradigm and incorporated findings from a mini survey. Priority issues were determined through the non-scoring Delphi technique, and underlying causes were explored using a fishbone diagram. To help address the TB burden in the community, a health education session was delivered and evaluated with pre- and post-test questionnaires. All 20 participants scored below 70 before the session, while most attained scores of 70 or higher afterward.

Exploring Employability Skills and Career Success through the Lived Experiences of Geology Graduates across Diverse Career Pathways

/0 Comments/in /by

Graduate employability has become an important indicator of higher education quality as graduates are increasingly expected to demonstrate transferable competencies that support career development across diverse employment contexts. This study aims to explore how employability skills contribute to career success among geology graduates working in both geology-related and non-geology sectors through the lens of Career Construction Theory. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed to examine the lived experiences of seven geology graduates from Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, Pakistan. Participants were purposively selected based on their graduation year, professional experience, and employment background. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis. The findings revealed that communication, teamwork, adaptability and continuous learning, problem-solving, and professional responsibility were the key employability skills supporting career success across different occupational contexts. Graduates employed in geology-related sectors combined technical expertise with transferable employability skills to achieve career progression, whereas graduates working in non-geology sectors relied primarily on transferable competencies to facilitate career transition and establish sustainable careers. Career success was perceived as a multidimensional construct encompassing both objective outcomes, such as career advancement and employment stability, and subjective outcomes, including professional satisfaction, personal growth, and meaningful work. This study extends Career Construction Theory by demonstrating that employability skills function as adaptive career resources whose contribution to career success varies according to occupational context. The findings provide practical insights for higher education institutions, employers, and policymakers seeking to strengthen graduate employability through the integration of transferable competencies with discipline-specific education.

Defragmenting Student’s Thinking Structures with Logical Errors in Solving STEAM-Based Geometry Problems through the Scaffolding Building Blocks Strategy

/0 Comments/in /by

The purpose of this study was to investigate how Scaffolding Building Blocks facilitates the defragmentation of students’ thinking structures characterized by logical errors in solving STEAM-based geometry problems. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design involving one ninth-grade student selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through a STEAM-based geometry problem-solving test, task-based semi-structured interviews, and documentation of students’ written work. Data analysis followed the Miles and Huberman model, consisting of data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. Data validity was ensured trough methodological triangulation. The findings indicate that the student’s logical errors did not stem from a lack of conceptual understanding, but from fragmented relationship among mathematical concept during problem solving. The student relied on intuitive selection of arithmetic operations, which resulted in incoherent reasoning chains across solution stages. The implementation of Scaffolding Building Blocks enabled the student to reconstruct conceptual relationships trough concrete geometric representations and guided questioning. This process progressively shifted the student’s thinking from fragmented and intuition-driven reasoning toward coherent, structured, and logically consistent problem-solving. The study concludes that Scaffolding Building Blocks is effective in facilitating the defragmentation of students’ thinking structures by reorganizing conceptual relationships in STEAM-based geometry problem solving. Beyond improving solution accuracy, the strategy promotes the reconstruction of logical reasoning structures, offering a pedagogically meaningful approach to addressing students’ logical errors in mathematics learning.

The Influence of Employee Performance, Supply Chain Management and Service Quality on Operational Performance Power as a Service Regional Sumbagsel PT. XYZ

/0 Comments/in /by

This research aims to analyze the influence of Employee Performance, Supply Chain Management, and Service Quality on Operational Performance in the Power as a Service (PaaS) business at PT. XYZ Regional Sumbagsel. The resarch utilized a quantitative design involving survey data from 568 subjects including Site Engineers and Site Engineer Coordinators. Data analysis was performed utilizing the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique via SmartPLS 4. The empirical findings indicate that Employee Performance, Supply Chain Management, and Service Quality have a positive and significant effect on Operational Performance, both partially and simultaneously. The Service Quality variable has the most dominant influence on improving operational performance. The research model also showed good predictive ability with an R-Square value of 0.543 and Q-Square of 0.532. These findings indicate that the success of operational performance in the PaaS business is greatly influenced by the integration of human resource quality, supply chain effectiveness, and consistency of service quality in supporting the achievement of Service Level Agreements (SLAs). This research contributes to the development of operational management literature, especially on the telecommunications infrastructure industry which demands a high level of service reliability and minimal downtime.

A Practical Framework for Selecting Health Literacy Measurement Tools in Rural and Agricultural Communities: A Narrative Review

/0 Comments/in /by

Health literacy is a key public health competency that enables individuals to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information in daily decision-making. Rural and agricultural communities require particular attention because health information is often delivered in contexts shaped by limited formal education, work-related hazards, restricted access to health services, uneven digital connectivity, and culturally diverse communication practices. Although many studies use well-known health literacy instruments, tool selection is often based on popularity rather than methodological fit for field conditions, respondent literacy level, cultural adaptation, occupational risk exposure, and interviewer burden. This narrative review aims to compare commonly used health literacy measurement tools and to propose a practical framework for selecting instruments for rural and agricultural populations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Literature was identified through targeted searches in PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and official instrument sources, with priority given to validation studies, psychometric papers, reviews, and publications involving rural or agricultural populations. The review discusses multidimensional tools such as the European Health Literacy Survey instruments and the Health Literacy Questionnaire, functional and clinical tools such as TOFHLA, S-TOFHLA, and the Newest Vital Sign, digital tools such as eHEALS, and occupation-specific tools such as the Agricultural Safety and Health Literacy Tool. A purpose-based selection framework is proposed to guide the choice of instruments for community surveys, clinical screening, digital health assessment, agricultural safety, and intervention development. For rural and agricultural settings, the most feasible approach is often a short-validated tool, culturally adapted, administered with interviewer assistance, and supplemented with context-specific items on work-related health risks and access to health information.

Development of A Guided Inquiry Model Mathematics Learning Tool to Improve Students’ Analytical Skills in Social Arithmetic

/0 Comments/in /by

This study aims to develop a guided inquiry model of mathematics learning tools to improve students’ analytic abilities in social arithmetic material. The study used the Research and Development (R&D) method with a 4D model that includes the define, design, develop, and disseminate stages. The developed tools consist of a user manual, teaching modules, LKPD, and test packages. The trial subjects were 28 seventh-grade students of SMP Negeri 14 Jember. Data were obtained through validation sheets, observations of learning implementation, observations of analyticity behavior, student response questionnaires, and pretest and posttest tests. The results showed that the learning tools met the valid criteria with an average validity score of 3.72–3.85, practical with an average implementation score of 3.33, and effective based on classical completeness of 82.14%, a high category of N-Gain increase, good category of analyticity behavior, and positive student responses of 89.7%.​