 |
Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 21, Issue 1, Article 3 (Dec., 2021) |
Implementation of science technology engineering and mathematics approach in learning to critical thinking skills of fifth-grade elementary school students in Lampung Province
Nelly ASTUTI*, Riswandi, Ujang EFENDI and Nur Ridha UTAMI
Elementary School Teacher Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Lampung, INDONESIA
*Corresponding Author's E-mail: nelly.astuti@fkip.unila.ac.id
Received 19 Oct., 2021
Revised 27 Dec., 2021
Critical thinking skills is an important aspect of the learning process in the 21st-century era. It can be improved with the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) approach in learning. This study aims to analyze the implementation of the STEM approach in learning to the critical thinking skills of fifth-grade elementary school students in the province of Lampung. The benefits of this research are (1) being able to improve students' critical thinking skills through the STEM approach, (2) the integration of the four aspects of the STEM approach can create active, innovative, and logical thinking students, (3) as a renewal and innovation in learning so that learning is oriented to students, and (4) the STEM approach can be used as an input for learning in elementary school. This study uses a quasi-experimental design with experimental and non-experimental classes. The population of this study amounted to 311 students and the research sample amounted to 59 students. The data is obtained using a test in the form of an essay which consist of 6 questions. Items measure critical thinking skills with six indicators, namely focus, reason, inference, situation, clarity, and overview. The reliability of the items in the high category (0.65) and the validity of the items in the moderate to very high category (0.44-0.95). The difference in the test results of the experimental class is 68.695 and the non-experimental class is 61.250. Data analysis using Kolmogorov Smirnov with the largest│FT-FS│t-test < table value of 0.111 < 0.246. The results show that the critical thinking skills is significantly higher in the experimental class students than in the non-experimental class. The results of the research on the critical thinking skills of fifth-grade elementary school students in Lampung Province are influence by the STEM approach with a significance level of 0.111 (sig <5%). Implementation of STEM approach in learning plays an important role in improving the critical thinking skills of fifth-grade students.
Keywords: critical thinking skills, elementary school, learning, STEM approach.
