PENGALAMAN SISWA SMA NEGERI 1 PERCUT SEI TUAN DALAM PEMBELAJARAN EKOSISTEM BERBASIS KURIKULUM MERDEKA STUDI FENOMENOLOGIS

Abstrak

The implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum has brought about significant changes in the learning paradigm, requiring teachers and students to be more active and contextually engaged in the learning process. However, biology instruction—particularly regarding ecosystem topics often remains conventional, dominated by lecture-based methods, so students’ real-world experiences in understanding ecosystem concepts have not been fully tapped into. This study aims to describe the experiences of students at SMA Negeri 1 Percut Sei Tuan in participating in ecosystem-based learning under the Merdeka Curriculum, identify the challenges they face, and understand the significance of these experiences. This study employs a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design. The research subjects consisted of 6 twelfth-grade students who had participated in ecosystem-based learning under the Merdeka Curriculum. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and documentation, and were analyzed through the stages of data reduction, categorization, interpretation of meaning, and essential description. The results of the study indicate that field activities provide a more enjoyable, relevant, and easily understandable learning experience compared to classroom learning. Students became more enthusiastic, reflective, and concerned about the environment. Obstacles that arose included time constraints, a lack of supporting media, and a limited variety of methods.