Student’s Perception Toward The Virtual Textile Chemistry Labolatory In Learning Making Cellulose Based Regenerative Textile Fiber

Abstract

The main problem often encountered by the students in learning textile chemistry in general is the difficulty of students in digesting and mastering the chemical process and the formation of fiber which is abstract and complicated, especially in the mechanism of regenerative fiber formation. This study aims to determine the students’ responses and interest towards the use of a Virtual Textile Chemistry Laboratory model in learning making cellulose-based regenerative textile fiber. One effort that can be taken as a solution to these problems is the development of a virtual laboratory model. The virtual laboratory is rapidly developing its use in science learning, especially chemical materials, because it is proven to provide significant benefits to the learning process and outcomes. The limited laboratory facilities in learning Textile Chemistry, has encouraged the development of virtual laboratory applications and their use in learning Textile Chemistry on the topic of Making Cellulose-Based Regenerative Textile Fibers. The purpose of this study is to review students' perceptions of the use of the Virtual Textile Chemistry Laboratory (VTCL) application and describe and compare these perceptions with relevant previous research results. Perception aspects surveyed are innovation, motivation, effectiveness, and its benefits in increasing student understanding on the material presented. The results of data analysis showed that the highest percentage of positive perceptions was in the aspect of innovation (94%), followed by the motivational aspect (89%), the Easiness aspect (90%), and the Benefit aspect (87%). Based on the results of data analysis, it can be concluded that most of the students (90.75%) have a positive perception of the use of VTCL in learning making cellulose-based regenerative textile fibers in the Textile Chemistry course and there are small number of students (9.25%) have a negative perception.