Ayu Cholifah, Dwi Widjanarko, Samsudin Anis

Development of a Virtual Tissue Culture Laboratory to Improve the Cognitive Abilities of Vocational School Students Studying Plant Agribusiness

Introduction

Development of a virtual tissue culture laboratory to improve the cognitive abilities of vocational school students studying plant agribusiness. Develops a virtual tissue culture lab for vocational plant agribusiness students. Addresses limited facilities, improving cognitive abilities and learning outcomes. Proven feasible & effective.

Abstract

The problem that arises during tissue culture learning is the limited laboratory facilities. The imbalance between the amount of equipment and the number of students causes the practicum to be carried out in turns for a long time, and is less efficient. The impact is that most students, after being assessed, obtain scores that are not as expected. Due to these problems, efforts are needed to utilize multimedia in virtual laboratories. This study aims to develop a virtual tissue culture laboratory at the Agribusiness Plant and Horticulture Vocational School and analyze the feasibility and effectiveness of the virtual tissue culture laboratory at the Agribusiness Plant and Horticulture Vocational School. This study uses the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) development model. The experimental method used is a one-group pre-test-post-test design, with the selected sample being the XI ATPH class, which has 36 students in the experimental class and 36 students as instrument testing subjects. The results showed that the virtual laboratory was categorized as feasible for tissue culture learning based on assessments by media and material experts. The virtual laboratory was also considered very practical for tissue culture learning. Based on the N-Gain Score calculation, the virtual laboratory improved tissue culture learning outcomes with a high category. This study concludes that the virtual laboratory can overcome the problem of limited practical facilities.

Review

This paper presents a highly relevant and timely intervention addressing the common challenges faced in vocational education due to limited laboratory facilities, specifically for tissue culture learning in Plant Agribusiness programs. The authors identify a clear problem – the imbalance between equipment and student numbers leading to inefficient practicums and suboptimal learning outcomes – and propose a practical solution through the development of a virtual tissue culture laboratory. The overarching goal to improve cognitive abilities and learning outcomes through multimedia utilization in a virtual environment is well-aligned with contemporary educational technology trends. The study employs a robust ADDIE development model, ensuring a structured approach to the virtual laboratory's creation and evaluation. The methodology included a one-group pre-test-post-test experimental design with 36 vocational students, which is appropriate for assessing the intervention's impact. The reported results are encouraging: expert assessments categorize the virtual laboratory as feasible and very practical for learning. Crucially, the N-Gain Score calculation indicated a "high category" improvement in tissue culture learning outcomes, directly supporting the claim that the virtual laboratory effectively addresses the issue of limited practical facilities and enhances student capabilities. While the abstract provides a strong summary of the virtual laboratory's successful development and positive initial impact, the full paper would benefit from further elaboration on several aspects. Deeper insights into the specific "cognitive abilities" targeted and how they were meticulously measured beyond general "learning outcomes" would strengthen the paper's theoretical contributions. Additionally, a more detailed description of the virtual laboratory's interactive features and the pedagogical principles embedded within its design would illuminate *how* it achieves its high practicality and effectiveness. Future discussions could also explore the scalability of this virtual solution, its potential for integration across different vocational agribusiness specializations, and considerations for long-term maintenance and updates.

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