Jurnal Pijar MIPA
Vol. 21 No. 3 (2026)

Implementation of Virtual Laboratory-Based Interactive Learning Media for Students' Science Literacy Skills on Temperature and Heat Material

Perlis Tantalama (Department of Science Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Gorontalo State University)
Tirtawaty Abdjul (Department of Science Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Gorontalo State University)
Nurhayati Nurhayati (Department of Science Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Gorontalo State University)
Abdul Haris Odja (Department of Science Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Gorontalo State University)
Mohammad Yusuf (Department of Science Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Gorontalo State University)



Article Info

Publish Date
17 Jun 2026

Abstract

The low scientific literacy of students in Indonesia is caused by the monotonous learning process that makes students bored with learning. This study aims to determine the effect of a virtual laboratory based on PhET simulation on students' scientific literacy in temperature and heat. This study used a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control-group design with two experimental and two control classes of seventh-grade students during the 2025/2026 academic year. Data were collected using pre-test and post-test scientific literacy instruments. The results of the independent-samples t-test showed a significance value (Sig. 2-tailed) of 0.000 < 0.05, indicating a significant effect of the virtual laboratory on students' scientific literacy. In addition, the N-Gain analysis showed that the control class was in the low category (0.17 and 0.14), while the experimental class was in the medium category (0.63). The uniqueness of this study lies in integrating a virtual laboratory based on PhET simulations with scientific literacy indicators in teaching temperature and heat. These findings indicate that virtual laboratory media can effectively improve students' scientific literacy. PhET simulation-based virtual laboratories can serve as an effective technology-enhanced learning tool to improve students' scientific literacy, particularly in understanding temperature and heat concepts in junior high school science education.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JPM

Publisher

Subject

Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Chemistry Mathematics Physics

Description

Jurnal Pijar MIPA (e-ISSN: 2460-1500 & p-ISSN: 1907-1744) is an open-access scientific periodical journal published by the Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram. Jurnal Pijar MIPA publishes original articles on current ...