Indra Fardhani
The development of various online learning modules in universities was growing rapidly to make student learning activities more convenient from their homes. However, not all courses could be implemented optimally through online learning. Some courses required fieldwork in their learning process. One of them was ecology. In this study, the ecology lecture was carried out using the group assignments method by dividing students into small groups to carry out fieldwork. This study aimed to explore student attitudes related to group assignments on freshwater bioindicator observation during the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate and improve the quality of learning in the future. Eighty-two students were given a questionnaire that included an attitude scale and an open-ended question on their fieldwork experience. Students were questioned about their field observation experience, feelings, participation in group decision-making, attitudes toward the fieldwork, problems, and other related statements. This study recorded students' attitudes toward fieldwork group assignments. The findings in this study were: the small-sized group would make the coordination before, during, and after fieldwork became easier; most of the students agreed that they understood the instructions so they could make the desired observation; lastly, the communication between lecturers, assistants, and students should be maintained to ensure the fieldwork would be conducted smoothly without any major problems. © 2023 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved.
Science Education Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), Jl. Semarang No. 5, Malang, Indonesia