Proceeding of International Seminar on Science Education

Yogyakarta State University, October 31st 2015

THE INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON LEARNING SCIENCE IN 21TH
CENTURY, CASE STUDY OF USING WHATSAPP APPLICATION

Anwaril Hamidy, Dwi Patmawati, M. Zainuddin, Rahzianta

Yogyakarta State University, Indonesia

Abstract
One of the challenges of education today in facing the era of globalization
is to integrate all the demands of the HR ( Human Resources ) into the 21st
century learning activities. Digital literacy and global citizenship is one of the
demands from Human Resources in 21st century. On one side, technological
development has not been optimalized on educational inovation. So, learning
in this century must be develop from inovation and use of technology, this
article aims to develop a learning media which it known as Whatsapp
aplication.Whatsapp known as a social media that had some features that
accessible, compatible and easy to use. Moreover, its can to share data, texts,
pictures, voices, and videos. So, whatsapp can be use as a effective learning
media for students. This article explain about integrating whatsapp aplication
for learning in 21st century that focus for the characteristic of digital literacy and
global citizenship. Form of whatsapp integration in 21st century learning
activites such as : reviewing learning materials, motivating, and daily assessing.
Integrating of whatsapp aplication in learning activities give some facility for
students in exploring knowledge trough informal and variatif discussion,
encourages students to learn independent, give suplement materials and daily
task, and improving students’ gadget and awareness as a learning media to
answer 21st century demands.

Keyword: integration, WhatsApp social media, learning science

INTRODUCTION
Globalization on 21st century has been effected toward development of sciences
and education. There has been a significant shift over the last century from manufacturing
to emphasizing information and knowledge services (Pacific Policy Research Center,
2010). Thus, education may should reconstruct the paradigm of learning, especially
learning science. One of the challenges of education today in facing the era of globalization
is to integrate all the demands of the human resources into the 21st century learning
activities. The North Central Regional Education Laboratory (NCREL) and The Metiri
Grup (2003) identifies that frameworks of student competencies consist of four categories:
digital literacy, inventional thinking, effective communication, and high productivity. So,
learning science should implemented by in-depth inquiry, planning, and action to address
specific topics related to 21st century competencies.
On one side, technological development has not been optimalized on educational

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 Proceeding of International Seminar on Science Education
Yogyakarta State University, October 31st 2015
inovation. So, learning in this century must be develop from inovation and use of
technology, this article aims to develop a learning media which it known as WhatsApp
application. WhatsApp known as a social media that had some features that accessible,
compatible and easy to use. Moreover, its can to share data, texts, pictures, voices, and
videos. So, WhatsApp can be use as a effective learning media for students.
This article consists of discussion about learning science on 21st century,
WhatsApp as social media application, integration of WhatsApp on learning science in 21st
century, and its benefits and challenges.

DISCUSSION
Learning Science in 21st Century
The meaning of term ‘sciences’ in this topic is natural sciences. However, science
primarily mean knowledge. Afterward, it has been emerged into social sciences and natural
sciences. Sciences as natural sciences is systematic and formulated knowledge dealing with
material phenomena and based mainly on observation and induction (Fowler, 1951). Based
on the definition, sciences is both processes and knowledge products which related to
nature phenomenon. Sciences as process, is a certain way to question and answering about
physics of universe (Trefil, 2010: 4), e.g posing hypothesis, designing and actuating
experiment, evaluating and measuring data (Carin & Sund, 2005). This certain way can be
said as scientific method. Meanwhile, sciences as knowledge products, is knowledge of
nature phenomenon which expressed as facts, concepts, principles, and laws. Thus, learning
science is a process to construct student’s knowledge which related to nature phenomenon
through scientific method.
Learning science is an actively learning process. Because learning science is
something student to do, not something that is done to them (National Science Education
Standard, 1996). So, learning science demands student to learn actively which implemented
by physics and mental activities. Being active of learning science has two criteria, hands-
on and minds-on (NSES, 1996). Process of learning science focuses on issuing direct
experiences to develop science literacy which explore and understand of nature
scientifically. Learning science aims to prepare student which have a body of knowledge,
scientific literacy, thinking skills, strategy of thinking, and critical and creative thinking
(Anna Poedjiadi, 2005). To reach the aims, learning science has characteristics as follows.
1. Learning science engages most of senses, all of thinking process, and variation of
muscle movement.
2. Uses variation of techniques e.g observation, exploration, and experimentation.

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 Proceeding of International Seminar on Science Education
Yogyakarta State University, October 31st 2015
3. May needs variaton of tools, especially to support observation.
4. Engages scientific conferences, literature reviews, visits objects, arranges hypothesis,
etc.
Globalization on 21st century has been effected toward development of sciences
and lives. Globalization in economics, increasing of divergent and interconnection of
population, and rapidly develpoment of technology has occured challenges for individual
and society to improve skills and knowledge. Pacific Policy Research Center (2010) states
that there are literacies which may needed by 21st century students: civic literacy, global
awareness, financial literacy, health literacy, visual literacy and environmental literacy.
Then, The North Central Regional Education Laboratory (NCREL) and The Metiri Grup
(2003) identifies that frameworks of student competencies consist of four categories: digital
literacy, inventional thinking, effective communication, and high productivity. Thus,
sciences as foundation of technology may need to improved its learning quality to prepare
generation whose 21st century skill. Paradigm of 21st century learning sciences does not
condition teacher as center of knowledge. But, students engaged to construct their
knowledge autonomously through communication and colaboration to each others and their
enviroment. In addition, 21st century learning science demand student to optimize the
technology which support autonomous learning. Saavedra (2012) claims that for recent
decades, research has been conducted the best way to teach sciences on 21st century, which
known as science of learning. 21st century science of learning has characteristics: it is
relevant with student lives, engage vary interdiscipliners, develop competency of both high
order thinking and low order thinking simultaneously, encourage students to apply their
knowledge, teach how to learn, clarify direct misunderstanding, understand that teamwork
is an outocome and promotes learning, exploit technology to support learning, and foster
student’s creativity. Pacific Policy Research Center (2010) states that 21st century
competencies could implemented through problem based learning, project based learning
and design based learning.

WhatsApp as Social Media Application

Communication between society around the world has been changes slowly due to
social media, from simple communication using oral into written communication. The
using of social media has give impact to society and other aspects of live, with the
emergence of social media in every daily activity it probably can be integrated into the
teaching learning activity.
Increasing of social media user day to day may be impact in the using of varry

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 Proceeding of International Seminar on Science Education
Yogyakarta State University, October 31st 2015
teaching learning strategies that can be apply by teacher in the classroom. Because essential
of teaching in the classroom is not only to teach but also transfer a knowledge and the main
thing that important is teaching is an art to make students’ aware to learn, teacher must
apply varry teaching learning strategy, because teaching is an art not science (Andrews,
2007) and (Nunan, 1998) learners need to be acquainted with efficient learning strategies,
with a view to assisting them to identify their own preferred ways of learning. So, the using
of varry learning strategies involve students’ awareness and helping students in become
autonomos learners. Nowadays, student is easy to become an autonomous learner due to
using of gadget, the using of gadget and other social media in learning activity known as
e-learning. (Honeyman &Miller, 1993) state that E-learning aims to deliverinstruction to
students not present in the classroom. It provides access to learning resources when the
instructor and students are separated by time, distance or both. So e-learning is when
students using gadget, PC, or tablet in assisting learning. In few years ago students’
knowledge just book centered nowadays it changes onto the e-book centered which it can
be download from their smartphone or pc.
According to Prensky (2001) suggests in his research entitled, “Digital natives,
Digital immigrants” show that our students today are all of them is ‘native speakers’of the
digital language of computers, video games and the Internet. As a ‘native speakers’ of
digital laguage students were so familiar with mobile learning application. There were few
mobile learning that can be apply in teaching learning activity and changing the paradigm
of learning activity in the classroom.
1. Weblog. Webblog is website and blog which it are commonly using by teacher and
students in creating communication in social networking.
2. Wikis. It is website space where user can adding and editing of the content published
e.g (Wikipeda)
3. Facebook. It is social networking that allow number of students and teacher in creating
discussion trough group and independent messages.
4. Twitter. Twitter is a powerful tool for connecting with others and sharing content
easily.
5. WhatsApp. Is a cross-platform smartphone messenger that allow users’ existing
Internet data plan to help them network socially in realtime.
WhatsApp is an application that allow online user to receive and send message
using internet provider, it also can be messaging in varry media such as, images, audio and
videos. (Olanof, 2012) claimed that in August 2012 numbers of Whatsapp user were 10
billion and it means that number of whatsapp users are huge and large, with huge number

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 Proceeding of International Seminar on Science Education
Yogyakarta State University, October 31st 2015
of user means that application are easy to handle and operate by user. In some cases,
students are motivate when the teacher using social media, social networking or mobile
applications (Okereke, 2014). In educational is too old to using Short Messages Service
(SMS) as learning media and its not compatible in recent day. WhatsApp allow students
and teacher in creating group of class and share images, videos and audio in the class group
created by teacher. Teacher also should make a guideline in using mobile application to
make sure that discussion will run smooth. Guideline in using whatsapp as learning media
can be define as follows :
1. Students must show their identity clearly
2. Students should to remember they are using media for educational purposes. So
students can not share images, audio or videos were prohibited by teacher.
3. Students should to keep their ethics.
4. Teacher should divide time for teaching in real classroom and social media or mobile
application.
5. Teacher must give time limitation for giving feedback in mobile application.

Integration of Whatsapp on Learning Science in 21st Century

Indonesian education requires an approach, method or media that can transfer
knowledge to students in the form of teaching materials based mobile learning called
WhatsApp. Learning is a teaching materials used in teaching science that integrates
learning media in the form of social media as a learning process. Science learning is a
learning process that is active. Knowledge gained through the activities performed by the
student, not a knowledge that has been there for them (the National Science Education
Standards, 1996). Learning science requires students to active learning that is implied in
the activities of physical or mental. Activeness in learning science lies in two aspects,
namely the active act of physical or hands-on and active thought or minds-on (NSES,
1996). The learning process of science emphasizes providing direct experiences to develop
competency in order to explore and understand the universe around scientifically. Learning
science aims to form students who have a stock of knowledge, scientific skills, thinking
skills and strategic thinking, and forming students who are able to think critically and
creatively (Anna Poedjiadi, 2005).
Integrated learning model integrated (coherence) is an integrated learning model
that uses the approach of fields of study. This integrated learning model combining several
fields of study curriculum by setting priorities and find the skills, concepts and attitudes
that overlap (overlapping) in some fields of study (Fogarty, 1991: 76). Integration of

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 Proceeding of International Seminar on Science Education
Yogyakarta State University, October 31st 2015
science learning model is an integrated learning model that combines a number of topics,
concepts, skills and attitudes of various subjects sal ing overlap. Topics, concepts, skills
and attitudes are then linked in a single theme that covers a variety of subjects. Focus on
the integration of a number of learning skills that want to be trained by a teacher to the
students in a learning unit for the achievement of learning materials. Learn the skills
Fogarty (1991: 77), including thinking skills, social skills, organizing skills.
Learning science in the 21st century does not make the teacher as the central
science, but students are involved to build on their own knowledge through communication
and collaboration with other students and the wider environment. In addition, students are
also required to optimize existing technology to support learning activities independently.
Learning science (science of learning) of the 21st century have the following
characteristics: relevant to students' lives, teaching involving different disciplines, improve
the ability to think a high level at the same low level simultaneously, encouraging students
to apply knowledge, to teach students how to learn independently, to explain the
misunderstanding in directly, providing an understanding that cooperation is able to
improve the understanding, optimizing technology to support learning and help students
develop their creativity. Rapid technological progress now penetrated all corners. If the first
technological advances synonymous with facilities owned by the city, but now that
technological advances can easily be enjoyed by people in various parts of the village. This
provides greater convenience to people's lives in all fields, one of which is the use of
smartphones in the field of education.
The presence of smartphones that can be bought easily become an alternative to
the limitations of learning resources for teachers and students learning science-based
Whatsapp is one way to help students learn anywhere and anytime that is capable of
forming the character of the students to learn independently, provision of science, scientific
skills, thinking skills and strategic thinking, and forming students who are able to think
critically and creatively. Social media application that is currently widely used, among
others, Whatsapp, which are widely used for personal and community communication.
Personal communication via Whatsapp allows us to communicate individually with others,
post pictures, videos, emoticons, website links, and others. Communication in the
community through Whatsapp usually use the feature group. Through Whatsapp group we
can communicate with many people. This feature is typically used by institutions,
communities, and organizations to communicate, both formally for online meetings or
simply greet each other and chat.
The Integrated curricular models represents a cross-disciplinary approach to the

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 Proceeding of International Seminar on Science Education
Yogyakarta State University, October 31st 2015
shared similiar models. The integrated model of blends the four major disciplines by setting
curricular priorities in each and finding the overlapping skills, concepts, and attitudes in all
four. (Fogarty, 1991: 76). At the middle school or secondary school, an integrated
curriculum is conceived as an interdisciplinary team struglges with an overloaded
curriculum.
Benefits and Challenges
Mutalib et.al (2010) stated that sciences offering some possibilty for conducted
reaseacrh which it helps students to learn and interperate environment due to it was an
effective tool for fulfill humans’ potention. Learning science taught by teacher focus in
forming students to have an ability in thinking critically, actively and creatively. According
to R. Gokul Raj. S. Nirmala Devi (2014) stated that learning science applied science
process ability which it is an ability that facilitating in learning science, making students
active, developing students’ responsibility in teaching learning acitivity, improving
teaching learning and treating students as learners and scientist. Learning science habituate
students to follow the step of experiment in sequence. Train students to think accurately for
observing, arranging and decision making. Learning science for students to preparing their
knowledge about all of nature which it giving a meaning for future live. Learning science
build students creativity and critical thinking that will be give benefit for students’
actualization to face their role in the complex future.
Learning science through mobile application whatsapp have challenges in their
applications. These challenges include:
1. Not all teachers and pupils have gadget so that not everyone can use learning science
through whatsapp.
2. Not all teachers and pupils can use or apply gadget well.
3. The use of social media depends on the operators concerned.
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
Integration of using social media and mobile application as learning media are
involve to raising students motivation, although there were so many mobile application that
can be use as learning media. One of mobile application that can applied by teacher is
WhatsApp application, which it has some benefits build students creativity and critical
thinking that will be give benefit for students’ actualization to face their role in the complex
future. Teacher should make guideline in guiding students to make group discussion run
smooth and one of the biggest challange in integrating WhatsApp as mobile learning is Not
all teachers and pupils have gadget so that not everyone can use learning science through
whatsapp. So, in integrating WhatsApp as mobile learning teacher should create a guideline

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 Proceeding of International Seminar on Science Education
Yogyakarta State University, October 31st 2015
and know how to apply or use WhatsApp.

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