THE QUALITY OF MENTAL MODELS AND CONCEPT ACQUISITION ON ISOMORPHIC PROBLEMS OF PHYSICS

The study aims to explore the quality of mental models and concept acquisition of Physics using isomorphic problems, especially rotation dynamics subject. Concepts acquisition is one of the main goals of learning. A good mastery of physics concepts will allow someone to explain and apply these concepts in daily life. Concepts acquisition was influenced by a person's mental model. Mental model is a representation of a person's thinking about a phenomenon, process or situation. One of instruments that can measure the mental models and concepts acquisition is isomorphic problems, in this case the rotational dynamics subject. Isomorphic problem is a problem that is solved by the same principle with different representations. Isomorphic problems of physics in this study are presented in active learning. The study was conducted on 19 students with mixed methods: embedded experimental model. The study was conducted by interviews, learning observation and test. Learning is done by active learning that presents isomorphic problems. The mental models of the students is traced by analyzing the answers to conceptual acquisition tests and interviews. The data analysis is done quantitatively and qualitatively. The mental model quality data and student concept mastery were analyzed by normalized gain score and Spearman Rank correlation. This analysis is used to find out the relationship of two variables with data. Spearman Rank correlation analysis conducted by analyze, correlate, bivariate into table correlations. If Sig. (2-tailed)