The effect of problem based learning model towards physics learning outcomes at dynamic electricity course

The objectives of this research was to analyze whether the problem based learning model has a better effect than the direct instructional model towards physics learning outcomes. It also aims at using the problem based learning model for analyzing the student learning activity in an experimental class. The populations used in this research are three classes of high school students in SMAN 2 Balige, Indonesia (Classes X¹, X², X³, A.Y. 2014/2015). The control sample was class X¹ whereas the experimented class was class X³. The analysis of the experiment in this research was based on the quasi-experimental method with two groups were being used for pretest and posttest designs. The data were collected using learning outcomes of seven essay writing tests and the learning activities were observed using some predesigned observation sheet. The data were analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics of obtained from the t-test of independent samples. The test was done using a significance level of 0.05. The result of the test showed that both of the students´ samples have normal distribution when the population was assumed to be homogeneous. The test showed that the problem based learning model provides better effects than the direct instructional model when used to assess the student learning outcomes in a dynamic electricity class.