scholarly journals An Investigation into the Development of the Force and Energy Unit through STEM Integration in Science Course and its Effects on Students' Critical Thinking Skills

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
İsmail EVCİM

In this study, to examine the change in individuals' critical thinking skills, a new unit was developed in which STEM was integrated. The outcomes of this 7th-grade unit were selected from related disciplines. During the learning process of the developed Force and Energy unit, it was aimed that individuals could make judgments by gaining critical thinking skills and evaluate events in a multi-dimensional way. In this study, which lasted for five weeks, the developed unit was used to conduct lessons with the experimental group (N=25) while the control group (N=25) was traditionally taught. The Critical Thinking Scales developed by Demir (2006a) were used in the research process. Before the implementation, no significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups regarding critical thinking skills, but after the implementation, a significant difference was observed in favour of the experimental group. When the scores obtained from the sub-scales (interpretation and explanation) were compared, a significant difference was found in favour of the experimental group. When the changes in the experimental and control groups were examined, there was no significant change in the control group students, but a significant change was found in favour of the experimental group. These changes occurred in the evaluation, Interpretation, and explanation sub-scales of the critical thinking scale.

Author(s):  
Wadha H. Al-Otaibi

The study aimed at identifying the effectivness of a suggested model for learning through projects based on shared learning in developing critical thinking skills and self-efficiency in Princess Nourah bint Abdularhman University (PNU). The study included a sample of 76 students from the specialization of primary level teachers in PNU randomly chosen, in which 39 students represented the experimental group. This group was taught the course of learning through projects using a suggested model. The other 37 students formed the control group and were taught the course in the conventional teaching manner. The critical thinking test and the self-efficiency scale were both administered before and after the experiment. The study revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the means between the experimental and control groups in the critical thinking skills test and the self-efficiency sclae in favor of the experimental group. 


Author(s):  
Shazia Sarwar ◽  
Muhammad Samiullah ◽  
Fazal-ur- Rahman

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effect of Cognitive Acceleration Programme on the critical thinking skills of 9th graders. The posttest only non-equivalent control group design was used. Two sections of class 9th were selected conveniently for experimentation. There were 80 participants (girls) in the experiment. There were 30 intervention lessons in the experimental classrooms. The posttest was designed based on Cornell Critical thinking test. Test was validated by experts from the Faculty of Education, Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad. The data were analyzed by the SPSS. The independent sample t-statistics were applied for control and experimental groups separately. The t-value for the comparison of performance of experimental and control group in sub-skills of critical thinking i.e., inference, deduction, assumption, interpretation, and argumentation showed significant difference. The results showed that critical thinking skills can be developed significantly through cognitive acceleration programme. So, the thinking science activities were recommended to science educators to incorporate into the classroom to accelerate critical thinking of students. Keywords: Cognitive Acceleration, Critical Thinking, Inference, Deduction, Assumption, Interpretation, Argumentation


Author(s):  
Ahlam Merji Al- Muhammadi Ahlam Merji Al- Muhammadi

This study investigates the effect of the 5E Instructional strategy on the development of critical thinking skills of intermediate third graders through Jurisprudence course compared to the normal way of teaching. In order to achieve this goal the researcher adopted a pre- post two- group (experimental and control) quasi- experimental research methodology. The tool of the study was a critical thinking skills test based on Mary McFarland's strategy. After the validation and calculation of the tool's reliability, the researcher piloted the tool at a random sample consisting of (63) female intermediate third graders in thirtieth Medina School. The study used a number of appropriate statistical analyses which included: means of scores, standard deviation, alpha Cronbach coefficient reliability test of critical thinking skills, and T- test for independent samples to ensure group homogeneity of study groups, and to see the effect of using the 5E Instructional strategy on developing the critical thinking skills of the students. The obtained results indicated that there are statistically significant differences at the level of significance (a = 0.05) between the mean scores of experimental group and control group students in the critical thinking skills test in favor of the experimental group. In the light of these results, a number of recommendations have been made, namely: religious science teachers should be supervised towards more attention to the development of critical thinking skills; paying attention to the involvement of the student in the learning process; encouraging students to express their opinions and being able to defend their point of view in order to increase the level of critical thinking skills and finally to employ the 5E Instructional strategy in teaching jurisprudence course. Based on the findings of the study, a group of suggestions for future studies have been made that can be considered as extension to the current study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (15) ◽  
pp. 337-342
Author(s):  
Muhibbuddin MUHİBBUDDİN ◽  
Suhrawardi ILYAS ◽  
Cut Eka PARA SAMYA

Critical thinking skills and scientific behaviors are important abilities that must be mastered and possessed by students in solving problems. The problem which frequently faced by students is they have been able to comprehend the science but have not been able to provide conclusions logically and systematically. The phenomenon shows the low critical thinking skills and scientific behaviors of students. To overcome these problems, it needs a change in the process of delivering learning material to students. This research aims to answer the question of whether learning through the implementation of the predict observe explain model has an effect on improving student critical thinking skills and scientific behaviors. The method used in this research is an experimental design pretest posttest control group. The parameters measured were critical thinking skills and scientific behaviors. Improvement of critical thinking skills and scientific behaviors was measured by calculating gain normalization (n-gain). The instruments used were the observation sheet and objective tests with five alternative answers. Data collection is done through pretest, posttest and observation during the learning process. Analysis of critical thinking skills was done by comparing the initial ability with the final ability of students and tested the significance of the two different tests on average using independent simple t-test. The results of the study indicated that the initial ability of thinking skills between the experimental and control classes did not have a significant difference, while the final ability showed significantly different results. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the implementation of the the predict observe explain model contribute in student critical thinking skills and scientific attitudes. Keywords predict observe explain, critical thinking, , scientific behavior


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 271
Author(s):  
Putri Supraningsi A.B ◽  
Muhammad Anas ◽  
Hunaidah M

This study is motivated by the low critical thinking skills and learning outcomes possessed by the students of VII grade of SMPN 14 Kendari. This study aims to determine the enhancement in critical thinking skills and learning outcomes on the subject Matter of Heat and Its Transfer. The population of this study were all students of VII grade of SMPN 14 Kendari who were registered in the odd semester in 2019/2020 school year, with total 204 students. The sample of this research was group VII3 with total 41 students as the experimental group and group VII4 with total 41 students as the control group who were taken by using random sampling techniques. The research data were analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Research results show: 1) There is no significant difference between the pre-test average scores of students critical thinking skills in the experimental group and the control group; 2) There is no significant difference between the pre-test average scores of the experimental group students and the control group; 3) The post-test average score of students from critical thinking skills in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group; 4) The post-test average score of the experimental group students was significantly higher than in the control group; 5) The average value of N-gain critical thinking skills of students in the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group; 6) ) The average value of N-gain learning outcomes of students in the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-120
Author(s):  
Nindya Ananda Latifa ◽  
Heffi Alberida

The aims of this study was to find whether there was an influence of the Problem Solving Model towards critical thinking skills of students of grade XI in SMAN 9 Padang. A Quasi Experiment method with The Post-test Control Group Only Design was used in this study. Students were grouped in an experimental group (Problem Solving model) and a control group (Direct intruction). The data from a test were analyzed using t-test with a=0,05. The findings showed that there was a significant difference of critical thinking skills enhancement in experimental group than the control group.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-85
Author(s):  
Mary Nerissa T. Castro, MST

Reading is the prime foundation of one’s academic and social status. However, this vital skill is what most students lack attention and interest. As a result, it deteriorates their critical thinking skills. To address the problem, Harvey Daniel introduced his literature circle strategy. It showcases different features that likely aid student’s struggles in the aspect of reading. This study, therefore, aims to determine the effectiveness of the literature circle strategy in improving critical thinking skills in reading among students at the University of Cebu-Banilad Campus. The study utilized a quasi-experimental method where the 48 ABM Grade 12 research subjects of the study were divided into two groups, namely: control and experimental. Strategies employed in these groups were different. The traditional method was practiced in the control group, while the literature circle strategy was implemented in the experimental group. For data gathering, a researcher-made test about the short story “Dead Stars” by Paz Marquez Benitez was used as the main instrument. Another short story entitled “The Small Key” by Paz Latorena was used as a springboard in the implementation of strategies for both groups. Statistical treatments used for data analysis were simple percent, t-test for Correlational Samples, and t-test for Two Independent Samples. Findings revealed that in measuring subjects’ critical thinking skills in reading, there is a significant difference between the posttest performances of the groups. The research subjects under experimental group performed higher than the control group. The study concludes that literature circle strategy is effective in enhancing student’s critical thinking skills in reading.


2011 ◽  
Vol 01 (04) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
T. Nirmala ◽  
B. S. Shakuntala

Abstract Title: Effect of Concept Mapping in Development of Critical thinking (CT) Skills among B. Sc Nursing Students Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of concept mapping as a teaching strategy to develop critical thinking skills. Materials and Methods: Pretest, post test control group design was used. The IV year B.Sc nursing students were included as experimental group (n=40) and control group (n=44). The experimental group was given a training to prepare nursing care plans using concept mapping. The training programme was for 12 weeks where the participants were given case study scenarios every week to prepare nursing care plans using concept map. The experimental group and control group were again assessed for the critical thinking skills. The concept maps were evaluated using scoring criteria. Results: In the post test, there was a significant difference in the critical thinking scores of both the groups at 0.05 level. (t=2.16). A significant improvement was identified between the pretest and post test critical thinking scores of experiment group at 0.05 level (t=2.0). Comparison of concept mapping scores of the experimental group in the pretest and post test showed a highly significant difference at 0.041 level. Conclusion: The study was able to show a significant improvement in the critical thinking skills of nursing students. However, the critical thinking scores were poor due to the high standard of the assessment tool. It is needed to develop critical thinking skill assessment tool which will suit the nursing community and further research is required to promote concept mapping as a teaching and learning strategy.


sjesr ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 386-394
Author(s):  
Tahseen Akbar ◽  
Dr. Mumtaz Akhtar

The study was conducted to find out the effect of cooperative learning strategies on students’ skill of interpretation and analysis at the higher secondary level. The research was quantitative. A pre-test post-test control group design was adopted for the study. One female public sector higher secondary school of district Sargodha was the population of the study. 60 students of grade XI were selected as a sample by using a simple random sampling technique. Two groups were formed: experimental and control comprising thirty students each. The experimental group was taught by applying cooperative learning strategies; jigsaw and scripted cooperation, while the conventional method was used to teach the control group. The period of intervention was sixteen weeks and English book I for grade XI was selected as content for intervention. A self-made test was used to assess the skills of interpretation and analysis as pretest and posttest. Data of pretest and posttest were analyzed by applying paired sample t-test. Analysis of the data showed a significant difference between pretest and posttest scores of the experimental group. On the other hand, there was no significant improvement seen in the control group. Teachers were recommended to use cooperative learning strategies to develop the critical thinking skills of the students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-94
Author(s):  
H. Halimah

This paper presents experimental results about the use of the Critical Literacy Approach (CLA) in literary appreciation using Indonesian short stories. The purpose of the study is to find better teaching strategies to improve students’ critical thinking skills and critical awareness to comprehend the conditions of the world, including social relationships involving disproportionate power relations. This study uses the randomized pretest-posttest control group design (RPPCGD), which is a randomized design by giving pretest and posttest to the experimental group (CLA) and control group (expository). The effect of both teaching strategies is calculated through the difference between the pretest and posttest of both groups. This research involved 170 students in the Department of Indonesian Language and Literature Education of an education university in Indonesia. The results are presented in the form of analytical descriptions of paired samples test and paired samples correlations of each group. The results show that students who did a short story analysis with CLA had significantly increased critical thinking skills and critical awareness compared to students of expository strategy. The average posttest of the experimental group is 80.33, which is considerably higher than the control group, with an average of 76.13. The average increase in skills (posttest-pretest) of the experimental group is 38.71 points, and the control groups have an average increase of 31.19 points. Therefore, it is clear that the teaching of literary appreciation using Indonesian short stories with CLA is effective. The use of CLA strategies in increasing students’ critical thinking skills and critical awareness through literary appreciation of Indonesian short stories shows positive results. The results of this study can contribute to the field of learning design with new ideas to improve critical thinking skills and critical awareness of Indonesian students through effective short story analysis or fictional prose analysis.


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