Culture-Based Physics Experiment Training to Foster Student Creativity

Abstract

The Community Service Program (PkM) titled “Culture-Based Physics Experiment Training to Develop Students’ Creativity” aims to integrate local wisdom into physics education to enhance students’ creativity. This initiative was undertaken because of the laboratory’s limited equipment, low levels of student creativity, and the absence of learning activities that integrate local culture or wisdom. Through a culture-based approach, papeda—a traditional Maluku dish—was used as an experimental medium to explain viscosity. The process of making papeda—which involves heating water, temperature changes, heat transfer, and the characteristics of fluid viscosity and flow—served as a real-world context for the lab activity. Thus, students could directly observe physical phenomena in their daily lives. The implementation method included the stages of socialization, training, technology application, mentoring and evaluation, as well as program sustainability. Students were trained to design and conduct simple experiments using materials and tools that are easily obtained in their local environment. Additionally, this activity encouraged students to think creatively in modifying experimental tools and procedures. The results included (1) culture-based physics experiment training can improve students’ creative thinking skills, with the majority falling into the “high” category; and (2) student responses to the PkM program were positive.