THE UTILIZATION OF DIGITAL MEDIA IN SCIENCE LEARNING AT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS
Keywords:
Digital media Science education Student engagementAbstract
The integration of digital media into junior high school science education has emerged as a critical strategy to enhance students’ engagement, motivation, and conceptual understanding. This study aims to investigate the utilization of digital media in science classrooms and its impact on students’ learning outcomes. Employing a qualitative research design with a case study approach, the study involved five science teachers and thirty students from SMP Negeri X as participants. Data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to digital media integration. The findings reveal that digital media, including interactive simulations, educational videos, and virtual laboratories, significantly improves students’ comprehension of complex scientific concepts and promotes active, inquiry-based learning. Moreover, digital tools facilitate differentiated learning, accommodate diverse student needs, and foster 21st-century competencies such as critical thinking and digital literacy. Despite these benefits, challenges such as limited access to devices, technical issues, and the need for teacher professional development were identified. The study concludes that the effective integration of digital media requires strategic planning, adequate resources, and teacher preparedness to optimize learning outcomes and engagement. The findings contribute to understanding how digital technologies can enhance science education in junior high schools and provide recommendations for practical implementation.
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