FINAL PROJECT REPORT

Mining and Biodiversity Comics Publishing

to the Elementary School Students around Mine Areas (Yudi L.A Salampessy, Novi Endi, Alvigho Chandra, Tatang Sutisna)

ABSTRACT

Incorrect perceptions about mining exploration process of the natural resources

can reduce a harmony relationship between factory and communities around quarry.

This project purpose was to improve knowledge and shaping positive attitudes and

behavior of the community members towards the importance of natural conservation

and mining business in an early age. The project was based on a survey method to

collect and analyze data and a quasi experimental to evaluate the comic effectiveness to

improve the understanding and positive attitudes and behaviors of the students. The

comic effectiveness was analyzed using paired t-test. The result indicated that the comic

about mining and biodiversity publishing was effective to enhance knowledge and

positive attitude of elementary students around quarry towards mining factory and

natural preservation.

INTRODUCTION

The mining activities and the corresponding preservation of the nature

information to the community surrounding the mine until recently are available to the

adult category, so that this information is likely to be understood partially and

pragmatically. However, a lack of information often creates incorrect perception from

the community members around the mines about mining enterprises, especially, the

perceptions about the exploration process of the natural resources which directly relates

to their social life and living environment. These conditions can reduce their harmony

relationships among them and in the end it disrupts all parties.

This project designs a comic as a medium of communication that is not only

effective to inform but to disseminate knowledge and to create positive attitudes and

behavior of the community members of surrounding the mine towards the mining

business and biodiversity in an early age. A comic as a communication medium was

selected because children like it so that our objectives can be achieved easily. This

project created some characters in the comic that corresponded to the children

characteristics in the surrounding mine area representing mining and biodiversity. Then

it was drawn a series story about the importance of natural conservation and mining

business as well as their relation to improve the quality of life and human civilization.

Objectives

This project purpose was to improve the knowledge and shaping the positive

attitudes and behavior of the community members towards the importance of natural

conservation and mining business in an early age.

Background Information

Research conducted in three elementary schools out of 16 schools around PT.

Indocement Cirebon Quarry, Indonesia. The research activity was in four steps, namely

sampling, survey and pre-test, comic composition, comic test and post-test

(effectiveness comic test). Students who became respondent were elementary students

in the third, fourth, and fifth year. For each step in this research, teachers, head schools

and CSR employees of PT Indocement were involved.

METHODS

The project was based on a survey method and a quasi experimental. The survey

method was used to collect and analyze data of geographical conditions of the

environment around the mine, demographics and psychographic characteristics of the

elementary students. Based on the survey results, mining and biodiversity comics were

designed. Then the experimental method was used to evaluate the comic effectiveness

to improve the understanding and positive attitudes and behaviors of the students

towards mining business and preservation of the nature.

Elementary students were sampled purposively in which the class chosen was

given a certain comic version. Within a class, 18 students were purposively chosen

through control procedure using level of class, reading ability, parents‟ occupation, and

gender proportion. They consisted of 6 students from each level of class 3, 4, and 5.

They were 9 female and male students.

The data were analyzed descriptively for the students‟ characteristics and pair

comparison test for evaluating the comic effectiveness. The pair comparison test was

applying t-test that is defined as:

𝑡 =𝑑

𝑠 𝑛

,

where d is the mean score difference („before‟ - „after‟), s is the standard deviation of

the score difference and n is the number of students. There were 12 pair comparison

hypotheses test in this study that were:

H0 : 𝛿𝑖 = 0

H1 : 𝛿𝑖 ≠ 0, 𝑖 = 1, . . , 12

where 𝛿𝑖 was the score difference between before and after reading comic, and i were

1. Overall students‟ knowledge

2. Students‟ knowledge of the third year

3. Students‟ knowledge of the fourth year

4. Students‟ knowledge of the fifth year

5. Male students‟ knowledge

6. Female students‟ knowledge

7. Overall students‟ attitude

8. Students‟ attitude of the third year

9. Students‟ attitude of the fourth year

10. Students‟ attitude of the fifth year

11. Male students‟ attitude

12. Female students‟ attitude.

If the hypothesis was rejected, it means there is an effect in the respective i after

reading comic.

RESULTS

Geographical Survey

We observed cement processing and tools, and nature conservation in the

quarry. This survey was intended to obtain environment data supporting comic‟s

background. The result was that hard land with flat surface composed by rocks, soils,

and limestone dominate PT. Indocement quarry environment. Some main buildings that

we found were offices, warehouses, factory, and social facilities. A conservation area,

moreover, existed within quarry. In the outside quarry, there were settlements,

government offices, and social facilities (schools, prayer house, and sport field).

The aforementioned activities had goals to get plots describing the relation

between mining activities and nature conservation, and comic‟s figures who have

characters, status, and roles that was relevant to the elementary students‟ cognitive and

characteristics. We found that cement processing was started by mining the limestone

that has been separated its soil. The limestone was then smoothened by grinder

machine, heated, and mixed with silica, iron sand, and gypsum. The tools used were

truck to transport soil and stone, truck to scrape soil, conveyor, dynamite, and drilled,

grinder, heater machine. The conservation area, on the other hand, was a flat land with a

human made lake. It was used for planting mangoes, and Ricinus communis,

domesticating goat, duck, chicken, and fish, and birds, butterflies, and dragonfly shelter.

Demography and Psychograph Survey

The achievement of publishing comic depended on the pictures composition,

plots, and figures that was suitable for the students‟ cognitive and characteristics. It was

the main reason for the demography and psychograph survey. It had goals to obtain the

number of elementary schools, female and male students of 3, 4, and 5 grade, the most

favorable figures in a story, and the social values that students got from their reading

stories. We also interviewed (pretest) the students to explore their knowledge about

mining activities and nature conservations.

The survey results showed that parents occupation were very diverse and the

most favorable figures were animals, robots, and humans, with the social values of

following the rules, being honest and smart, and becoming a hero. The students

understood how to conserve their nature and the benefit of the cement making. They,

however, were not known the main material for cement, the resource of it, and how to

obtain it.

Comic Design

The discussion of survey results done previously became the fundamental idea

in composing story, figures, and also comic‟s background. Based on the purpose of

publishing the comic, the team came to an agreement that the figures that came into

view were not only based on the results of the survey only, but also represented the

mining and natural diversity. The plots, on the other hand, were composed to illustrate

the figures‟ interaction within themselves and between the figures and natural resources

that pointed to the exploration and conservation of natural resources for human life

preservation.

Trough discussion and creative process, the research team had created some

important characters for the first volume of this comic (the next volume will be

published continually). Based on the result of the survey and the purpose of comic

publishing, the characters that appear in the comic were not only those who became the

favorite of elementary students, but also represented the mining factory and

biodiversity:

1. A Dump Truck character represents mining factory. He is tough and kindhearted.

This character‟s name is Tiro. It comes from the abbreviation of “Tiga Roda”, the

brand of cement produced by PT. Indocement.

2. There are two Excavators characters in this comic and they represent the mining

factory. These characters are Heldy and Bhoa. The name Heldy is taken from

HeidelbergCement as the main company of PT. Indocement. He is diligent, wise and

humanist (labeled by 8). While Bhoa, is taken from the name of a gigantic snake

“Boa”. Bhoa is a strong, full of pride character and does not understand yet about

the importance of natural conservation (labeled by 49).

3. The worms, the tree and the bird are the characters which are represented a part of

biodiversity in the ecosystem around PT. Indocement.

Story-Board

In order to reach the objective of publishing the comic, the research team

considered the ecology as the main message in the comic. By this, the story plot shown

was the visualization of interaction between the living creatures and their environment

in a process of mining the natural resource. This interaction then ended with the arises

of consciousness about the importance of taking benefits from natural resources and

conserves them all at once for the quality and the continuity of humans‟ life as well as

other living creatures.

Briefly, the first volume of the comic visualized (Appendix 1) the environment

around the mining of PT. Indocement; the needs of limestone as the main material to

make cement and also the process of limestone mining and heavy tools used in mining

activity. In this mining process, there was biotic and abiotic interaction. Then

interaction between characters (biotics) happened because the soil and limestone

digging injured worms‟ body and destructed living environment accidentally. This

accident provoked a quarrel among characters related to the importance of limestone

excavating to make cement needed by human live and the biodiversity preservation that

was important to the quality and sustainability all creatures improvement. The quarrel

was ended with knowledge enhancement and positive attitude of some characters

towards mining process and natural preservation. Meanwhile, one of the characters did

not accept it. It was because knowledge, attitude, and behavior changing process of

certain characters required persuasive communication using higher frequency and

intensity than other characters.

Treatment

Printed comic distributed to chosen three schools elementary students who

formerly involved in the pretest. We gave a comic to them to be read in their home for

two days.

Each student was interviewed and measured their knowledge and positive

attitude towards limestone mining to make cement and natural conservation after

reading the comic. Like pretest, the questions in post test were measured students

knowledge about mining factory, namely the main material to make cement, the

resource of the cement main material, and the way to obtain the cement main material;

and natural preservation including natural disaster and the way to environment

preservation. On the other hand, students attitude measurement were dealt with students

response either pros or cons to the limestone exploration to make cement, natural

preservation obligation, and mining activities considering the natural preservation.

After post test, the research team along with students and teachers evaluated the

comic. It focused on comic and letter form, picture and dialogue clearness, and color

composition. It resulted that the most students and teachers wanted more colorful

picture because it would be more interesting, while other components were met with

their wants.

Data Analysis

Comic about mining and biodiversity publishing was intended to enhance

knowledge, create positive attitude and behavior towards the importance of mining

factory and natural preservation since early age. It means that comic would be published

when there was a strong evident that it became an effective medium to reach those

goals. To obtain the evident, we analyzed data collected from pre and post test.

The comic effectiveness was analyzed using paired t-test to the response

difference of elementary students based on the questions asked before and after reading

the comic. The result of paired t-test was summarized in table.

Table Mean score difference based on level of class and gender

No. Paired t-test Mean T val Sig.

(2-tailed)

1. Students‟ knowledge before and after reading

comic

-10.28 -7.51 .000

2. Students‟ knowledge of level 3 before and after

reading comic

-11.67 -3.61 .015

3. Students‟ knowledge of level 4 before and after

reading comic

-8.50 -3.18 .024

4. Students‟ knowledge of level 5 before and after

reading comic

-10.67 -6.82 .001

5. Male students‟ knowledge before and after

reading comic

-10.33 -5.11 .001

6. Female students‟ knowledge before and after

reading comic

-10.22 -4.72 .002

7. Students‟ attitude before and after reading

comic

-4.11 -6.68 .000

8. Students‟ attitude of level 3 before and after

reading comic

-3.83 -3.06 .028

9. Students‟ attitude of level 4 before and after

reading comic

-3.83 -3.20 .024

10. Students‟ attitude of level 5 before and after

reading comic

-4.67 -5.29 .003

11. Male students‟ attitude before and after reading

comic

-4.33 -4.82 .001

12. Female students‟ attitude before and after

reading comic

-3.89 -4.37 .002

Significant value that is less than 0.05 on all paired t-test on students‟

knowledge and attitude based on specific categories toward mining factory and natural

preservation leads to the rejection of null hypothesis. It means that there was a

significant effect before and after reading the comic for all 12 tests. Because the mean

score difference („before‟ was subtracted „after‟) is negative, students‟ knowledge and

positive attitude increase after reading the comic.

DISCUSSION

Tatalovic (2009) explained that a comic consisted of a clear cartoon frame series

that could compose a story. Meanwhile, Sudjana and Rivai (2011) defined a comic was

a cartoon in which it revealed characters and its figures played roles in a picture closely

related story. It was intended to entertain the readers. Based on aforementioned a comic

definition, it was concluded that a comic was one of media that can support and increase

elementary school students‟ study process considering that it offered more interesting

information and its information can be easily followed. As a printed form, it was more

flexible to be used and without any special tools.

This research created a comic as a scientific information medium delivery about

mining and biodiversity to elementary students. It means that the comic position was

not only a reading material for children, but also a study messages package (Waluyanto,

2005). As Afrilyasanti and Basthomi (2011) mentioned that a comic could connect the

study materials and the environment phenomena, so that it gave meaningful

communication.

The research result showed that mining and biodiversity comic was effective to

enhance knowledge and positive attitude of elementary students towards mining

industry and biodiversity conservation. It supported Arroio (2011) who said that a

comic could play role as a medium to deliver scientific information that is visually

entertaining, and Afrilyasanti dan Basthomi (2011) who argued that a comic was a

visual medium completed by interesting pictures, so that it triggered students to study

and it became an alternative medium in a study material variation.

Some similar result was obtained in Novianti R.D dan Syaichudin M (2010) in

which an improved comic could enhance the fifth year students‟ understanding of SDN

Ngembung, Gresik, towards math story questions in the fraction chapter. Meanwhile,

Hamida, Zulaekah, and Mutalazimah (2012) research about comic effectiveness to

enhance students‟ understanding towards food safety around school in SD

Muhammadiyah 2 Kauman showed that there was a different effect in the understanding

enhancement between treatment groups. It illustrated that a group with a comic as a

medium had a better understanding enhancement compared to a group without a comic.

Added Value

This project is a basic step to enhance knowledge and to form positive attitude of

community members regarding the importance of mining industry and environment

conservation because it is done in an early age via interesting, informative, scientific,

and entertaining medium. The children will carry the knowledge and positive attitude

until their adolescence, so that they will always support on mining industry and do

environment conservation.

Therefore, mining and biodiversity comic publishing for elementary students

around quarry has a main added value as a cheap long term infestation for PT.

Indocement. It is, however, believed that it can increase the harmony relationship

among mining industry, community members, and sustainable environment around

quarry that is needed by PT. Indocement to achieve its success. Some experiences show

that other ways to create a harmony relationship often need a high cost.

The other added value from this comic publishing is the presence of an effective

medium for PT. Indocement to:

1. Communicate its organized mining activities

2. Educate community members about environment

3. Fulfill elementary students around quarry need of reading material as an alternative

CSR activity

CONCLUSIONS

Comic about mining and biodiversity publishing was effective to enhance

knowledge and positive attitude of elementary students around quarry towards mining

factory and natural preservation. For the future, knowledge and positive attitude were

believed shaping positive behavior towards mining factory and natural preservation.

This comic will be published by PT Indocement as CSR activity because it

provides directly to the elementary students need in reading material. It has also positive

social relation between parties, communities and factory. And as a research and creative

work, comic publishing will be developed to:

a. Multi location test around mining areas (cities and villages) and non mining areas via

student research project

b. Tiro figures will be try to used for business mascot in environmental friendly mining

industry

c. Three dimension film making to popularize and support nation creative industry.

REFERENCES

Afrilyasanti, R., dan Basthomi, Y. 2011. Adapting Comics and Cartoons to Develop 21st

Century Learners. Language in India; Strength for Today and Bright Hope for

Tomorrow Vol. 11.

Arroio, Agnaldo. 2011. Comics as a Narrative In Natural Science Education. Western

Anatolia Journal of Educational Science; Special Issue. University of Sao

Paulo. Sao Paulo - Brazil

Hamida K., Zulaekah S., dan Mutalazima. 2012. Penyuluhan gizi dengan media komik

untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan tentang keamanan makanan jajanan di

sekolah. Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Vol. 8 No. 1. Fakultas Ilmu

Keolahragaan Universitas Negeri Semarang. Semarang - Indonesia

Novianti R.D dan Syaichudin M. 2010. Pengembangan media komik pembelajaran

matematika untuk meningkatkan pemahaman bentuk soal cerita bab pecahan

pada siswa kelas V SDN Ngembung. Jurnal Teknologi Pendidikan Vol. 10 No.

1. Universitas Negeri Surabaya. Surabaya - Indonesia

Sudjana N. dan Rivai A. 2011. Media Pengajaran. Sinar Baru Algensindo. Bandung

Tatalovic, M. 2009. Science Comics as Tools for Science Education and Comunication:

a Brief, Exploratory Study. Jurnal of Science Comunication 8 (4). SISSA –

International Scholl for Advanced Studies. Italy

Waluyanto D.H. 2005. Komik Sebagai Media Komunikasi Visual Pembelajaran. Jurnal

Nirmana. Universitas Kristen Petra, Surabaya - Indonesia

ANNEXES

1. Story Board

2. Questionnaire

QLA Questionnaire (Pre Test)

Name :

Class :

School : (1) Palimanan Barat, (2) Kedung Bunder 1, (3) Kedung Bunder 3

1. Comics that have been read 1. ….………………………………………………

2. .…………………………………………………

3. …….……………………………………………

2. Frequency of reading comic ………. times

The most favor figure: ……………….. ………………… ……………

Reasons: ……………….. ………………… ……………

No. Knowledge Respond Categories

1 2 3 4 5

1. The material to make cement

2. The source of material to make cement

3. The ways to obtain the material to

make cement

4. Cement functions

5. The effects of environment disaster

6. The ways to conserve environment

Attitude Object VO O N P VP

1. Limestone exploration to make cement

2. Obligation to conserve environment

3. Mining activities that consider

environment

VO: Very Offence, O: Offence, N: Neutral, P: Pro, VP: Very Pro

QLA Questionnaire (Post Test)

Name :

Class :

School : (2) Palimanan Barat, (2) Kedung Bunder 1, (3) Kedung Bunder 3

1. Frequency of reading Tiro comic ……… times

2. Tiro comic attractiveness 1. Attractive, 2. Not attractive

3. The interesting part of Tiro comic 1. Picture, 2. Figure, 3. Story

Story plot to be understood 1. Easy 2. Difficult

Picture to be understood 1. Easy 2. Difficult

4. Format evaluation of Tiro comic

Size 1. Too big, 2. Too small, 3. Quite enough

Color 1. Black and white 2. Full color

Knowledge and Stance of elementary students around quarry

No. Knowledge Respond Categories

1 2 3 4 5

1. The material to make cement

2. The source of material to make cement

3. The ways to obtain the material to

make cement

4. Cement functions

5. The effects of environment disaster

6. The ways to conserve environment

Attitude Object VO O N P VP

1. Limestone exploration to make cement

2. Obligation to conserve environment

3. Mining activities that consider

environment

VO: Very Offence, O: Offence, N: Neutral, P: Pro, VP: Very Pro

3. Coding Sheet

Pre Test

No. Name Class School Frequency

of Reading Comic

Comics That Have Been Read The Most Favor Figure Knowledge Attitude

1 2 Name Reason 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3

1 M. Kurnia 3 2 3 Dragon Ball Spongebob Srigala Smart 1 1 1 1 1 5 3 3 3

2 Novian A.P 3 3 2 Naruto Superman Sasuke Blade 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

3 Nariatul M. H 3 1 Often Malin Kundang Ayam & Kera 1 1 1 5 5 5 3 5 5

4 Pipit F 3 1 Ever Dora Emon Upin Ipin Funny 3 3 1 3 3 2 2 3 3

5 Rachmawati 3 3 Seldom Dora Emon Spongebob Funny 1 1 2 5 1 4 4 1 3

6 Siti Alysah 3 3 3 Srigala & Gagak Barbie Beautiful 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 3

7 Ajrul Fajar 4 1 Not Ever Shisuka Gentle 1 1 1 3 4 3 3 3 3

8 Rahel 4 3 Ever Upin Ipin Barbie Nabi Holy 1 2 2 4 3 1 3 3 4

9 Dini R.P 4 2 1 Kisah Nabi Nobita Menolong 3 3 1 5 5 5 3 3 3

10 Nurelisah 4 2 2 Belle Tuan Putri Baik Hati 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

11 M. Ifad A 4 2 Ever Batman Si Kancil Clever 2 2 2 4 3 3 2 3 3

12 Maura A.E 4 1 Seldom Micky Mouse Nabi Holy 2 1 1 5 5 5 3 5 5

13 Aria Agung 5 1 Ever Si Kancil Pahlawan Robin Strong 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3

14 M. Ubaidillah 5 3 3 Dora Emon Dragon Ball Kancil Clever 3 1 1 5 5 5 3 3 3

15 M. Zidni A 5 3 2 Malin kundang Kisah Nabi Tn. Krep Funny 3 3 1 5 1 5 3 5 3

16 M. Alansyah 5 2 Seldom Spongebob Binatang Funny 3 4 1 5 5 1 3 3 3

17 Priti 5 2 Ever Barbie Tikus Funny 5 3 1 5 5 2 5 3 3

18 Eva Anisa 5 1 3 Si Kancil Dora Emon Smart 2 1 2 4 3 2 3 3 3

Post Test

No. Name Class School Frequency of

Reading Tiro

Tiro

Attractiveness

The Interesting

Part of Tiro

Plot to be

Understood

Format Evaluation

of Tiro Knowledge Attitude

Story Picture Size Collor 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3

1 M. Kurnia 3 2 5 1 1,2,3 1 1 3 1 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 5

2 Novian A.P 3 3 3 1 2,3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5

3 Nariatul M. H 3 1 3 1 3 1 1 2 2 4 5 1 5 5 5 5 5 3

4 Pipit F 3 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 1 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

5 Rachmawati 3 3 6 1 3 1 1 2 2 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 3 5

6 Siti Alysah 3 3 3 1 1,2,3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5

7 Ajrul Fajar 4 1 3 1 1,3 1 1 3 2 5 3 4 5 3 3 4 5 4

8 Rahel 4 3 3 1 1,2,3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5

9 Dini R.P 4 1 5 1 2 1 1 1 2 5 5 5 5 4 4 5 5 5

10 Nurelisa 4 2 5 1 2,3 1 1 3 1 5 4 5 5 4 4 4 5 5

11 M. Ifad A 4 2 6 1 1,2 1 1 2 2 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

12 Maura A 4 2 3 1 1,2,3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5

13 Aria Agung 5 1 10 1 1,3 1 1 2 2 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

14 M. Ubaidillah J.A 5 3 5 1 2,3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

15 M. Zidni Atoila 5 3 3 1 1,2,3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5

16 M. Alansyah 5 2 3 1 1,2,3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5

17 Priti 5 2 3 1 2,3 2 1 3 2 5 5 4 5 3 4 4 5 3

18 EvaAnnisa 5 1 4 1 1,2,3 1 1 2 2 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 5 4

4. Tiro Comic