The Ecobin: An Innovative Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable Technology in Increasing Environmental Awareness among Elementary School Students

Abstract

- The purpose of this research is to describe in detail the design of the Ecobin media in increasing environmental awareness among elementary school students. The background of this research is the low awareness of elementary school students regarding efforts to preserve and maintain the surrounding environment at school, as well as the teachers' efforts to facilitate students in disposing of waste around the school, which still uses conventional methods, namely maximizing duty schedules and mere reprimands. Waste is mixed and ends up in the school's final disposal site, where it is burned without considering the pollution impacts on the environment and the health of the school community itself. The author aims to develop an environmentally-based learning media called Ecobin, which is an innovative, environmentally friendly, and sustainable technology-based learning media that is part of an ecopedagogical model, which is an alternative learning model to educate students to have understanding, awareness, and vitality in implementing a balanced and harmonious life with nature. The research method used is a qualitative approach that includes the process of designing innovations, developing innovations, and applying them to the syntax of lesson plans. The results of this research include that the components installed on the Ecobin serve as a basis for developing environmentally friendly and sustainable learning media. The modification process is adjusted according to the design and drawings that have been calculated based on the trials of all components conducted previously until they successfully and effectively eliminate waste. The components of the Ecobin and their functions that support the combustion process include: Load Waste, Chamber, Air Flow Piping, Stove System, Smoke Treatment, Chimney, and Load FlyAs. The construction of the Ecobin media requires full involvement of students in the process of implementing its functions to enhance environmental awareness among elementary school students.