Abstract:Twenty-first-century science education requires students not only to master scientific concepts but also to possess critical thinking skills to analyze, evaluate, and solve problems logically. The reality in schools indicates…
cates that science learning is still frequently teacher-centered, resulting in students’ conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills not being optimally developed. This study aimed to determine the relationship between conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills among eighth-grade students of SMP Negeri Karoaipi on the topic of the human respiratory system. The study employed a quantitative approach with a correlational research design. The research sample consisted of 25 students selected through a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using descriptive tests of conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills, while data analysis was conducted through descriptive statistics, normality testing, and simple linear regression analysis using SPSS. The findings revealed that students’ conceptual understanding was categorized as good, with a mean score of 77.36, while critical thinking skills were also categorized as good, with a mean score of 78.76. Regression analysis demonstrated a correlation coefficient of 0.045 and an R Square value of 0.002, indicating that the relationship between conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills was classified as very low. These findings suggest that critical thinking skills are influenced not only by conceptual mastery but also by learning strategies, problem-solving experiences, analytical activities, and student engagement during science learning. The novelty of this study lies in the empirical finding that strong conceptual mastery does not necessarily correspond to high critical thinking skills among junior high school students in rural schools, particularly on the topic of the human respiratory system.
Abstract:Twenty-first-century education requires students to possess critical thinking abilities and science process skills in order to respond to the advancement of science and technology and to solve problems scientifically and…
systematically. Empirical conditions in schools indicate that junior high school students’ critical thinking skills remain relatively low because science learning is still predominantly teacher-centered and insufficiently engages students in scientific investigation activities. This study aimed to determine the relationship between science process skills and the critical thinking skills of eighth-grade students at SMP Negeri Tindaret on the topic of the human excretory system. The study employed a quantitative approach with a correlational research design. The research sample consisted of 25 students selected through purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using a critical thinking skills test and an observation sheet assessing science process skills. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and the Pearson Product-Moment correlation test. The findings revealed that students’ critical thinking skills obtained a mean score of 75.80, while science process skills achieved a mean score of 73.00, both categorized as fairly good to high. The correlation analysis produced a coefficient value of 0.732 with a significance level of 0.000, indicating a strong and significant positive relationship between science process skills and students’ critical thinking skills. The findings further demonstrated that students who actively engaged in observation, experimentation, data processing, and scientific communication exhibited better analytical abilities and conclusion-drawing skills. The novelty of this study lies in revealing the empirical relationship between science process skills and critical thinking skills specifically in the topic of the human excretory system at SMP Negeri Tindaret, as well as in providing recommendations for science learning based on scientific investigation to strengthen students’ higher-order thinking skills in the twenty-first century.
Abstract:The paradigm shift in science education necessitates the development of critical thinking skills as a foundation for improving students’ problem-solving abilities; however, empirical conditions indicate that both competencies…
tencies remain low and have not been optimally developed. This study aims to examine the relationship between critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities among eighth-grade students of SMP Negeri 2 Serui and to determine the degree of their empirical association. The study employed a quantitative approach with a correlational design, utilizing essay-based test instruments analyzed through simple linear regression. The findings reveal that students’ critical thinking and problem-solving abilities are in the low to moderate categories, with mean scores of 14.56 and 28.72, respectively. The linearity test indicates a significant relationship, while regression analysis produces the equation Y = 21.682 + 0.484X with a significance value of 0.009. The correlation coefficient of 0.487 indicates a moderate positive relationship, and the coefficient of determination of 23.7% shows that critical thinking contributes to problem-solving ability. The results confirm that improvements in critical thinking skills directly influence the enhancement of students’ problem-solving abilities, although other factors also contribute. The novelty of this study lies in the presentation of a quantitative relationship model that remains significant despite non-normally distributed data, as well as in establishing critical thinking as a significant yet partial predictor of problem-solving, thereby providing a foundation for developing more structured, contextual, and higher-order thinking-based instructional strategies.
Abstract:Research on leadership styles and the strengthening of school culture in Islamic schools has become increasingly significant in response to the growing demand for educational quality grounded in religious values. School…
principals play a strategic role in developing an adaptive, collaborative, and character-oriented organizational culture that supports students’ holistic development. This study focuses on publication trends, thematic cluster structures, and the tendencies of leadership style implementation in strengthening Islamic school culture based on bibliometric analysis. The study employed a descriptive quantitative approach using bibliometric analysis of 397 Scopus-indexed documents published between 2019-2025. Data collection was conducted using Publish or Perish, while data visualization analysis was performed using VOSviewer through keyword co-occurrence techniques. The findings reveal that school culture and distributed leadership emerged as the most dominant themes and occupied central positions within the bibliometric network. The shift in research paradigms indicates a transition from structural approaches toward participatory, collaborative, and contextual approaches in modern educational leadership. Another finding demonstrates that the concepts of Islamic school and Islamic leadership have not yet appeared prominently in international research networks, thereby indicating a significant research gap regarding the integration of Islamic values into school culture and educational leadership practices. This study concludes that the strengthening of school culture is influenced not only by the administrative capabilities of school principals, but also by their ability to foster collaboration, social relations, innovation, and the continuous internalization of moral values. The novelty of this research lies in the use of bibliometric analysis to systematically map the relationship between leadership styles and Islamic school culture, while also offering a perspective on integrating the values of amanah, shura, and exemplary conduct into modern collaborative leadership models.
Abstract:This study was motivated by the low mathematics learning outcomes of vocational high school students, which are influenced by affective factors, particularly learning interest and self-confidence. Mathematics plays a crucial…
cial role in developing students’ logical, critical, and systematic thinking skills; therefore, successful mathematics learning constitutes an essential component of vocational education. The research problem focused on the influence of learning interest and self-confidence on the mathematical cognitive learning outcomes of eleventh-grade students at SMK Negeri 7 Kabupaten Tangerang. The study employed a quantitative approach with a correlational survey design. The research sample consisted of 129 students selected through cluster sampling techniques. Data were collected through Likert-scale questionnaires and documentation of students’ mathematics scores. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression with the assistance of SPSS software. The findings revealed that learning interest did not have a significant effect on mathematics learning outcomes, contributing only 1.1%, whereas self-confidence had a significant effect with a contribution of 10.8%. Simultaneous testing demonstrated that learning interest and self-confidence collectively exerted a significant influence on mathematics learning outcomes with a contribution of 13.8%. The findings indicate that self-confidence is a more dominant affective factor than learning interest in improving the mathematical cognitive learning outcomes of vocational high school students. The novelty of this study lies in the finding that the vocational practice-oriented characteristics of vocational high school students cause learning interest not to directly influence mathematics learning outcomes, while self-confidence emerges as a more determining factor in students’ academic achievement. The results of this study are expected to serve as a foundation for developing mathematics learning strategies that are more oriented toward strengthening students’ psychological aspects.
Abstract:This study aims to explore the construction of students’ contextual understanding of the Qur’anic and Hadith texts and their relevance in addressing the challenges of modern life. The research is motivated by the persistence…
sistence of a textual-normative learning paradigm in Islamic-based teacher education institutions, which risks creating a dichotomy between the authority of sacred texts and the dynamics of contemporary issues. Specifically, this study analyzes the development of critical and reflective thinking competencies among students of the PGSD Program at the private higher education institution STKIP Al Islam Tunas Bangsa in interpreting and actualizing the messages of the Qur’an and Hadith in relation to contemporary social issues. The method employed is Classroom Action Research conducted in two cycles, each consisting of the stages of planning, implementation of contextual learning actions, participant observation, and critical reflection. Data were collected through structured observations of classroom discussion dynamics, in-depth analysis of students’ reflective journals, and evaluation of case analysis projects, which were subsequently processed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal a significant transformation in students’ patterns of religious understanding, shifting from a literal approach toward analytical-contextual competence, as evidenced by their ability to relate religious textual messages to current issues such as digital media ethics, social justice, and environmental sustainability. The implications of this study underscore the urgent need to internalize a contextual approach within the Islamic Religious Education curriculum in private higher education institutions in order to build religious literacy that is applicable and adaptive to the changing times.
Abstract:Social Studies is often perceived by students as a less engaging subject, partly due to the dominance of lecture-based teaching methods that offer minimal contextual learning experiences. The low level of active student…
participation in the learning process impacts their conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) strategy in improving students’ conceptual understanding in Social Studies through a literature review of various recent research findings and scholarly publications. CTL, as a learning approach that emphasizes the connection between subject matter and students’ real-life contexts, is believed to address these pedagogical challenges. Analysis of the literature sources shows that the consistent implementation of CTL positively contributes to enhancing student engagement, learning outcomes, and the development of critical and analytical thinking skills. Learning that is linked to concrete social experiences encourages students to actively construct meaning, understand interconceptual relationships, and apply knowledge meaningfully in daily life. The conclusion of this review affirms that the CTL strategy is effective in creating a more interactive, meaningful, and deeply comprehensible Social Studies learning process. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive synthesis of previous findings, demonstrating that CTL is not only relevant as an innovative teaching method but also holds potential as a systematic approach to pedagogical transformation in Social Studies education at the elementary and secondary levels.
Abstract:The phenomenon of escalating anime consumption as a form of entertainment among junior high school students (Sekolah Menengah Pertama, SMP) generates an imperative to comprehend its psychological and educational ramifications,…
tions, particularly concerning learning motivation. This study employs a systematic literature review methodology to analyze the correlation between anime exposure and the learning motivation levels of SMP students, with a particular focus on both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational dimensions. The synthesized literature reveals that anime, through its narrative complexity, visual quality, and motivational character portrayal, functions as a stimulus capable of enhancing intrinsic motivation by instilling ethical values and achievement-oriented zeal, as well as facilitating extrinsic motivation via social recognition incentives and identity aspirations. This augmentation in motivation contributes positively to increased concentration, active participation, and learning perseverance. Nonetheless, findings also indicate potential risks of diminished learning efficacy attributable to disproportionate time allocation towards excessive anime viewing, which may adversely impact academic performance. The contribution of this research lies in the integration of motivational theory (intrinsic and extrinsic) with media effects theory within the context of anime genres—particularly the action genre—to explicate the dynamics of media influence on cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning facets. Overall, the study concludes that the influence of anime consumption on junior high school students’ learning motivation is dualistic in nature; anime can serve as a facilitative medium for learning motivation when consumed in a controlled manner. Therefore, time management and content comprehension emerge as critical factors in optimizing the educational benefits of anime consumption without eliciting detrimental consequences on academic achievement.
Abstract:The humanistic approach in higher education plays a crucial role in enriching students' learning experiences, both academically and emotionally, with a focus on the holistic development of individuals. This approach emphasizes…
asizes the importance of human values, character building, and empowering students in the learning process. This study aims to explore the relationship between humanistic educational philosophy, psychological well-being, and students' learning satisfaction at Bina Bangsa University. By paying attention to the needs, interests, and potential of each student, the humanistic approach creates an inclusive learning environment that supports personal development. The results of the study show that this approach can enhance motivation, creativity, and critical thinking skills in students through interactive learning methods such as discussions, debates, and practical work. Furthermore, the humanistic approach also has a positive impact on students' mental well-being by creating an emotionally safe classroom atmosphere, reducing stress, and anxiety. Students feel more valued and supported in their personal development. However, challenges arise when educators fail to provide clear explanations or adequate guidance before assigning tasks or homework, which can increase pressure on students. In conclusion, this study emphasizes that the humanistic approach is essential in creating a meaningful learning experience, which not only focuses on academic achievement but also on character development and psychological well-being. Therefore, the application of humanistic principles in higher education is key to creating a more relevant, holistic education that supports the balance between academic achievement and personal development.
Abstract:Learning motivation is the drive that encourages individuals to remain enthusiastic about learning. Previous research has explained various forms of motivation, such as internal and external motivation. One aspect of internal…
ernal motivation is self-awareness or Mindfulness. However, research on Mindfulness as a factor influencing learning motivation, particularly in Generation Z, is still quite limited. Therefore, this study aims to examine the role of Mindfulness in enhancing learning motivation in Generation Z. This research uses purposive sampling to select samples that meet the research criteria. The participants involved are Generation Z individuals aged between 12 and 27 years, residing in Banten, and currently enrolled as active students. To measure the level of learning motivation, the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) is used, while the Five Facet Mindfulness Scale (FMMQ-10) is used to measure the level of Mindfulness. The results of the study show a significant positive relationship between Mindfulness and learning motivation, with a regression coefficient of 0.152. This means that the higher an individual's level of Mindfulness, the higher their learning motivation will be. These findings suggest that Mindfulness can play an important role in improving learning motivation, especially when applied alongside other supporting factors such as social support, emotional regulation, and a conducive learning environment. This study provides evidence that a Mindfulness-based approach has the potential to be applied in strategies to enhance learning motivation. Therefore, the development of programs integrating Mindfulness practices into students' daily lives, particularly among Generation Z, could be an effective step in improving the quality of their learning experience.