Needs Analysis for Developing Computational Thinking-Based Science Educational Games to Foster Ecological Awareness and Participation of Elementary School Students in Karanganyar.

Abstract

IPAS learning in elementary schools plays an important role in fostering scientific literacy and environmental awareness, but there is still a gap between students' ecological knowledge and actions. This study aims to analyze the needs of students and teachers for the development of an ecologically-minded computational thinking-based IPAS educational game as the basis for designing SainsEco. This study used a descriptive quantitative-qualitative approach in the form of needs analysis, involving 216 students and 12 teachers through closed and open questionnaires. The results showed that students have good environmental awareness and computational thinking readiness, but are still weak in initiative-based ecological actions and decision-making, and a moderate relationship was found between computational thinking and environmental citizenship. These findings conclude that the development of a computational thinking-based educational game designed with decision-making mechanisms and ecological consequences is needed to bridge the gap between students' awareness and actions.