Ethnoscience of the Blue-eyed Cuscus as a Learning Resource for Island Science in Elementary Schools
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33387/j.edu.v24i1.11609Abstract
Science learning at the elementary school level is often presented in an abstract manner, making it less connected to students’ real-life experiences and their surrounding environment. Integrating local knowledge through an ethnoscience approach can provide contextual learning experiences that bridge scientific concepts with community-based ecological understanding. This study aims to explore the local knowledge of communities surrounding Lake Tolire regarding the blue-eyed cuscus (Phalanger matabiru) and to analyze its potential as a contextual learning resource for island-based science education in elementary schools. The research employed a qualitative exploratory design using an ethnoscience approach. Data were collected through field observations, semi-structured interviews with local community members and elementary school teachers, and documentation. The data were analyzed through stages of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing to identify scientific concepts embedded in community knowledge. The findings reveal that local communities possess ecological knowledge related to the behavior, habitat, and feeding patterns of the blue-eyed cuscus, including its nocturnal activity, arboreal lifestyle, and consumption of fruits and leaves within forest ecosystems. This knowledge reflects traditional ecological understanding developed through long-term interactions between humans and their natural environment. Furthermore, the identified local knowledge can be transformed into scientific concepts relevant to the elementary Integrated Science and Social Studies (IPAS) curriculum, such as living organism adaptation, habitat relationships, food chains, and forest ecosystems. The study concludes that integrating ethnoscience based on local fauna can enrich science learning by making it more contextual, meaningful, and relevant to students’ island environments while also fostering awareness of local biodiversity conservation.References
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