JIPI (Jurnal IPA dan Pembelajaran IPA)
Vol. 10 No. 3: SEPTEMBER 2026

Tour Games Tournament Battle: The Effect of a Tournament Based Board Game on Grade VIII Students' Conceptual Understanding of the Human Respiratory System

Mika Lepi (Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Salatiga, Indonesia)
Vicharisti Monica Mangudis (Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Salatiga, Indonesia)
Risya Pramana Situmorang (Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Salatiga, Indonesia)
Djohan Djohan (Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Salatiga, Indonesia)
Sefni Oemolos (Arizona State University, Arizona, United States)



Article Info

Publish Date
17 Sep 2026

Abstract

Understanding the human respiratory system, particularly the microscopic processes of gas exchange, is challenging for junior high students transitioning from concrete to abstract thinking, often leading to rote memorization. This study examines the effect of tour games tournament (TGT) battle, a board game integrating TGT that simulates O₂ and CO₂ diffusion, on conceptual understanding. It describes student mastery profiles across Bloom’s cognitive levels. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was employed with 48 eighth-grade students (24 per group). Conceptual understanding was measured using a validated 30-item multiple-choice test, analyzed via paired/independent t‑tests, effect sizes (Cohen’s d), and descriptive indicator profiling. Results showed TGT battle significantly outperformed conventional instruction, with experimental posttest (M=14.71) and gain scores (M=5.33) far exceeding controls (M=10.88; M=0.92; p<0.001; d=1.65–1.66), demonstrating large practical effects. Gain distributions confirmed consistent improvement across all ability levels and effectively prevented the reinforcement of misconceptions. Bloom's profiling revealed the highest mastery at the understanding level (C2, Indicator 1=0.75) and strong higher-order thinking (C4–C5, Indicators 10–12=0.68). However, a critical weakness emerged at the application level (C3, Indicator 5=0.46), attributable to the game's linear design, which fragmented internal and external respiration. TGT battle effectively builds foundational and higher-order understanding, yet requires structured post-game debriefing to bridge gaps in intermediate application. Thus, it serves as a robust, inclusive instructional strategy for abstract secondary biology when complemented by reflective conceptualization phases.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jipi

Publisher

Subject

Description

JIPI (Jurnal IPA dan Pembelajaran IPA) has the abbreviation JIPI and is a journal published by the Master of Science Education Study Program at the Postgraduate School of Syiah Kuala University, in collaboration with the Indonesian Science Educators Association (PPII). JIPI aims to present original ...