Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) based learning of physics to develop senior high school student's critical thinking

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to know the development of senior high school student's critical thinking skills through Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) based learning physics. The critical thinking indicators developed in this study include hypothesizing, interpreting, analysing, summarizing and evaluating. Design of this research uses One Group Pretest-Posttest Design. Subjects in this study were 2nd grade of Senior High School Students, from three Senior High School in Semarang City. The results showed that discussion, experiment, project making and presentation activities that were packaged in STEM based physics learning could develop critical thinking skills in aspects of hypothesizing, interpreting, analysing, summarizing and evaluating. The result of the gain test shows the development of hypothesis, analysing, and evaluating ability included in high category, while the ability to interpreting and summarizing is included in the medium category.