Empirical Study of the Initial Conditions of Coastal Students of Malacca

Abstract

The initial condition of students is one of the important factors that affect the success of the learning process. Understanding the initial conditions of students allows teachers to design learning strategies that suit the characteristics, needs, and environment of students. This study aims to describe the initial condition of elementary school students in the coastal areas of Malacca Regency which includes academic, social, cultural, environmental, and preparedness aspects for coastal disasters. The research uses a descriptive quantitative approach with the support of qualitative data. The research subjects consisted of 180 elementary school students in the coastal area of Malacca Regency. Data was collected through observation, questionnaires, interviews, and documentation. The results of the study show that the initial condition of students is influenced by the characteristics of the coastal environment, family socioeconomic background, local culture, and access to limited learning resources. Most students have first-hand experience with coastal environmental phenomena, but basic literacy and disaster preparedness skills are still in the medium category. These findings show the importance of developing contextual learning that utilizes the coastal environment as a learning resource. Therefore, teachers need to consider the initial condition of students in designing relevant and meaningful learning.