Explosion Box Media Enhances Chemistry Learning Outcomes for High School Students

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FORMOSA NEWS

Researchers from Universitas Negeri Makassar—Muharram, Jusniar, Fandi Ahmad, and Andi Bintang—demonstrated that integrating explosion box media into a discovery learning model significantly improves high school students' chemistry performance. Conducted in 2026, this study offers a compelling solution to help students grasp complex chemical concepts more effectively.

Addressing Challenges in Chemistry Education Chemistry topics, particularly reaction rates, are often perceived as difficult and abstract by high school students. Conventional, teacher-centered instructional methods frequently fail to maintain engagement, resulting in suboptimal academic outcomes. The lack of interactive tools often leaves students struggling to visualize complex processes, making it harder to foster deep conceptual understanding.

Research Methodology The team conducted a quasi-experimental study at SMA Negeri 14 Gowa involving Grade XI students. The experimental group engaged with explosion box media—a multi-sensory, interactive tool containing videos, summaries, worksheets, and quizzes—while the control group utilized standard discovery learning without the media. The researchers then administered post-tests to compare cognitive achievement between the two groups.

Key Findings The use of explosion box media yielded clear academic benefits:

• Students in the experimental group achieved an average score of 84.12, significantly outperforming the control group, which averaged 76.25.
• Statistical analysis confirmed a significant effect, proving that the interactive media method yielded superior learning results compared to conventional approaches.

Implications and Impact This study demonstrates that interactive, multi-sensory media can effectively transform abstract chemical concepts into concrete learning experiences. By aligning tactile learning aids with the discovery learning model, educators can foster a more engaging, student-centered environment that boosts academic achievement and conceptual clarity. These findings suggest that incorporating such innovative media is a viable strategy for improving the quality of science education in Indonesian classrooms.

Author Profile Muharram, Jusniar, Fandi Ahmad, and Andi Bintang are researchers from Universitas Negeri Makassar, specializing in educational innovation and science pedagogy.

Source Information:

• Article Title: The Effect of Explosion Box Media within a Discovery Learning Model on Students' Chemistry Learning Outcomes
• Journal: Journal of Educational Analytics (JEDA)
• Year: 2026
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jeda.v5i1.640