Examination of Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Levels of Teacher Candidates in the Age of Global Communication

The media and mass media, which are used extensively in our age, affect individuals in terms of political, cultural, economic and education. The correct and critical use of media requires media literacy and critical thinking skills, among 21st-century skills. Individuals with these skills are required to interpret, evaluate and analyze the information obtained through mass media with a critical perspective. The concept of media literacy is an interdisciplinary concept that falls under the scope of both communication sciences and educational sciences. The aim of the study is to reveal the media literacy and critical thinking skill levels of teacher candidates and the relationship between media literacy and critical thinking skill levels. The survey model, which is one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. The study sample consists of 185 Science, Turkish and Classroom teacher candidates studying at different grade levels in the education faculty of a state university in the 2018-2019 academic year. Data were collected using a personal information form, Media Literacy Scale and Critical Thinking Tendency Scale. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to look at the normality of the distributions, Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal-Wallis test to look at the difference between the variables were used. As a result of the study, it was found that pre-service teachers’ media literacy and critical thinking skills did not show a significant difference according to gender, duration of internet use and the primary function they sought in TV programs. In addition, while the critical thinking skill level of the pre-service teacher does not differ according to the grade level and department, the media literacy skill levels of the pre-service teachers vary according to the grade level and department. In terms of social media tools, it was found that pre-service teachers with high critical thinking levels preferred to use Twitter more, while pre-service teachers with high media literacy levels preferred Twitter and Facebook. In addition, it has been determined that there is a statistically positive relationship between critical thinking and media literacy levels.

The Effectiveness of Blended Learning Model to Promote Physics Students’ Critical Thinking Skill

Critical thinking skills that are claimed to be in the medium and low categories require special attention. Efforts that can be made to overcome these problems are to use an explicit learning model to develop students' critical thinking skills by considering the integration of technology in the learning process. This study aimed to describe the validity, practicality, and effectiveness of blended learning model in promoting critical thinking skill. This study garnered the data regarding the validity from three validators. The practicality of the learning model was based on the applicability of the learning model, students’ responses and challenges faced throughout the teaching and learning process; while the effectiveness of the learning model was based on the increase of the critical thinking skill. The empirical evidence showed that the average score given by the three validators was 3.7 with the percentage of 90% reliability, which falls into a very valid category. The blended learning model enabled the students to develop their critical thinking skill with the average achievement 0.83 for each indicator of critical thinking. This study concluded that the blended learning model was valid, practical, and effective to promote students’ critical thinking skill. The results of this study can be used as an alternative solution to improving students' critical thinking skills that are relevant to technological developments.

Karakteristik dan Asesmen Pembelajaran Abad 21

Pembelajaran abad 21 merupakan pembelajaran berbasis teknologi yang kinisemakin berkembang pesat. Perkembangan teknologi tersebut mendorong adanya berbagai pengembangan, termasuk juga dalam bidang penilaian atau assessment. Penelitian ini penelitian ini adalah studi kepustakaan (Library Research) dimana studi kepustakaan adalah kegiatan mengumpulkan bahan-bahan yang berkaitan dengan penelitian yang berasal dari buku dan jurnal-jurnal ilmiah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pembelajaran abad 21 sendiri memiliki ciri dan keunikannya sendiri, dimana pembelajaran yang dilakukan di lembaga pendidikan harus berfokus pada keterampilan abad 21. Pembelajaran harus didesain sesuai dengan keterampilan 4C yang meliputi, 1) critical thinking skill (keterampilan berpikir kritis), 2) creative and innovative thinking skill (keterampilan berpikir kreatif dan inovatif), 3) communication skill (keterampilan komunikasi), dan 4) collaboration skill (keterampilan berkolaborasi. Adapun Asesmen atau penilaian pembelajaran pada abad 21 yaitu penilaian autentik. Penilaian autentik merupakan pembelajaran penilaian yang melibatkan peserta didik untuk berperan dalam aktivitas pembelajaran secara nyata, selanjutnya peserta didik dapat melakukan penyelidikan, menuntut peserta didik berperan aktif membangun pengetahuan dari lingkungan sekitarnya.

The Effectiveness of Predict Observe Explain Learning Model to Students’ Critical Thinking Skills

This research aims to understand the differences of critical thinking skill in learning physics using predict observe explain (POE). It was experimental research with pretest posttest control group. It was conducted in class XI IPA of SMAN 3 Banda Aceh on the topic of thermodynamic law. This research used two parallel classes, which is the first class stands for control and another is used as experiment. Conventional model is applied in control class, whereas class of experiment had predict observe explain model. Instrument of this research was objective test with five multiple choice. Then, data were collected through pretest and posttest. Data analysis is carried out by comparing initial and final skills of students and then tested for significance using two different means through independent simple t-test. The results showed that there were differences in critical thinking skills between students using POE model and students using non-POE model. Therefore, it can be concluded that application of learning model predict observe explain in improving students critical thinking skills.

Critical thinking implementation in an English education course: Why is it so challenging?

Critical thinking has been acknowledged essential in education field but there have been debates on unclear instruction in implementing critical thinking skill in the classroom. Due to the urgency on the needs of critical thinking skill cultivation, this research aims to investigate the implementation of critical thinking skill instructional strategies in Critical Reading and Writing I and the students� perception towards their critical thinking skill in CRW I. In order to attain the data, the researchers employed mixed-method. Observation sheet, interview guidelines, close-ended and open-ended questionnaires were utilized. The data of the close-ended questionnaire set in the Likert Scale distributed to 17 students was analyzed by measuring the central tendency or the mean and it indicates that the value of the students� perceived critical thinking skills is 3.89 (middle to high) in which the highest 4.18 is on interpretation skill and the lowest 3.71 is analysis skill. Meanwhile, for the open-ended questionnaire, the data was analyzed utilizing coding procedure. Further, in analyzing the data of the interview, the researchers recorded the data into transcripts and analyzed them utilizing selective coding and it reveals that the instructional strategies used are explicit instruction, teacher questioning and active and cooperative learning.

How Do Critical Thinking Ability and Critical Thinking Disposition Relate to the Mental Health of University Students?

Theories of psychotherapy suggest that human mental problems associate with deficiencies in critical thinking. However, it currently remains unclear whether both critical thinking skill and critical thinking disposition relate to individual differences in mental health. This study explored whether and how the critical thinking ability and critical thinking disposition of university students associate with individual differences in mental health in considering impulsivity that has been revealed to be closely related to both critical thinking and mental health. Regression and structural equation modeling analyses based on a Chinese university student sample (N = 314, 198 females, M age = 18.65) revealed that critical thinking skill and disposition explained a unique variance of mental health after controlling for impulsivity. Furthermore, the relationship between critical thinking and mental health was mediated by motor impulsivity (acting on the spur of the moment) and non-planning impulsivity (making decisions without careful forethought). These findings provide a preliminary account of how human critical thinking associate with mental health. Practically, developing mental health promotion programs for university students is suggested to pay special attention to cultivating their critical thinking dispositions and enhancing their control over impulsive behavior.

Problem Based Learning (PBL) Model: Its Effect in Improving Students’ Critical Thinking Skill

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model on the critical thinking skills of 7th-grade students of SMP Negeri 34 Bandarlampung (Public Senior High School 34 Bandarlampung). This quasi-experiment involved 2 groups of students, totaling 28 students for the Experimental class and 26 students for the Control class. Data collection was obtained by using an essay test instrument which was presented in the pretest and posttest. Based on the research results, it is known that the posttest results of the experimental class are 78.82, and the results of the control class are 74.07. The data were then analyzed by independent sample t-test and obtained tcount (2.213) greater than ttable (2.007). The effectiveness of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model was tested with the effect size test, the results showed a number of 0.2 with a low category. So, it can be concluded that the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model has an effect on increasing students’ critical thinking skills but with low effectiveness.

Augmented Reality-Based Student Worksheet to Stimulate Students’ Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking skill which is one of the important abilities in the 21st century is important to be trained in learning. The purpose of this research is to develop an AR-based worksheet on dynamic electrical material that is valid, practical, and effective to stimulate students’ critical thinking. The development model used the ADDIE model which consists of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation steps. The product developed was tested for validation, practicality test, and effectiveness test. The results of the validity test obtained a value of 81.80% with a valid category. The results of the practicality test obtained a percentage of 80.85% with good criteria. The results of the effectiveness test showed an N-Gain value of 0.67 with the moderately effective category. From the average pretest and posttest scores, it can be seen that the posttest average score increased by 39.04 which indicates that the use of AR-based worksheets can improve students’ critical thinking. It can be concluded that AR-based worksheets on the concept of dynamic electricity developed are valid, practical, and effective to stimulate students’ critical thinking.

Penerapan Model Introduction Connection Application Reflection Extention (ICARE) Dipadu Modul Pembelajaran Berbasis Konstruktivisme Untuk Meningkatkan Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis Dan Hasil Belajar Peserta Didik

Critical thinking skill plays an important role in achieving maximum learning outcomes. The lack of involvement in critical thinking skills activities impacts students’ learning outcomes. This study aims to analyze whether the ICARE learning model application combined with constructivism-based learning modules can improve students' critical thinking skills and learning outcomes. The research method is an experiment with a pretest-posttest control group design. This study was conducted in MAN 4 Aceh Selatan and MAS Ashhabul Yamin Aceh Selatan during the even semester (2020/2021 Academic Year) with the population of 196 students of science class XI. The research sample was 119 students, namely the experimental group 58 and the control group 60. The parameters measured are critical thinking skills and learning outcomes. Data on critical thinking skills and learning outcomes were analyzed by parametric statistics using an independent sample t test, while to observe the correlation of critical thinking skills with learning outcomes was conducted through correlation and regression analysis. The results showed that there was an increase in critical thinking skills and student learning outcomes after being taught using the application of the ICARE learning model combined with constructivism-based learning modules on the respiratory system material. The correlation coefficient obtained is 0.832 which indicates there is a positive relationship between critical thinking skills and learning outcomes with strong interpretations. The conclusion of this study is that the application of the ICARE learning model combined with constructivism-based learning modules can improve students’ critical thinking skills and learning outcomes on respiratory system material. Keywords: ICARE, Constructivism, Critical Thinking Skill, Learning Outcomes.