Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Science Education)
Vol. 14 No. 4: OCTOBER 2026

Understanding Classroom Management and Student Interaction Patterns in Indonesian Science Classrooms: A Multi-Site Case Study

Risya Pramana Situmorang (Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Salatiga, Indonesia)
Marisa Christina Tapilouw (Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Salatiga, Indonesia)
Digara Christian (Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Salatiga, Indonesia)
Mika Lepi (Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Salatiga, Indonesia)
Failasuf Aulia Nugroho (Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Oct 2026

Abstract

In science teaching, managing the classroom remains a difficult issue to this day. Whether it is maintaining classroom order or properly organising every minute of the learning schedule, it has always been a challenging problem that science teachers must devote great effort to solving. To address this, a multi-site qualitative case study evaluated pedagogical management and interactional dynamics within the science curricula of two Indonesian junior secondary institutions. Grounded in behavioral and sociocultural paradigms, the research explored the reinforcement and group facilitation strategies of two veteran science educators, utilizing observational and interview data to integrate student perspectives. Thematic evaluation delineated two distinct pedagogical profiles. The first demonstrated a spontaneous reinforcement paradigm centered on digital media, acting primarily as a motivator; although this approach elicited substantial enthusiasm, it concomitantly resulted in asymmetrical student participation. Conversely, the second profile used a structured reinforcement paradigm centered on tactile, hands-on media. The final research findings show that effective classroom management cannot rely on a single method; three measures must be combined. First, use positive incentives to mobilise learners' enthusiasm, continuously encouraging everyone to maintain a stable learning state. Second, build well-structured, organised learning support, and then use a gradual, step-by-step "scaffolding" approach to help everyone keep up with the progress. Third, refine teachers' instructional ability to manage group interaction dynamics, so they can stabilise the collaborative rhythm of small teams and resolve unexpected situations smoothly

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jpsi

Publisher

Subject

Description

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Science Education) or JPSI is an international journal dedicated to studying and exploring various matters related to science education, especially technological developments in the field of science based on ethnoscience and local wisdom. JPSI ...