Abstract:Public speaking is the activity of speaking in front of an audience with the aim of delivering information, providing explanations, entertaining, or influencing the listeners. It also involves conveying messages verbally…
in front of an audience, whether in the form of speeches, presentations, lectures, or discussions. Public speaking is a crucial skill in various aspects of life, ranging from education to the professional world. This ability not only helps in academic presentations but also impacts how a person communicates and influences others. At the high school level and equivalent, students begin preparing for the next stage in their education or entering the workforce. Many challenges arise for students when speaking in front of an audience in a formal setting and explaining their presentations. Students face difficulties due to a lack of self-confidence, nervousness, panic, and a lack of mastery over the material they will present. In addition to a lack of self-confidence, other challenges include limited vocabulary, low communication skills, fear of judgment from others, and insufficient preparation. Basic public speaking training at Al Ma'shum High School in Kisaran would be highly beneficial for students to boost their self-confidence, enhance their communication skills, sharpen their critical and logical thinking abilities, and equip them for entering the workforce. The basic public speaking training will involve methods such as self-introduction exercises, role-playing, speech structure practice, impromptu speaking, expression training, intonation and articulation exercises, as well as feedback and evaluation.
Abstract:The advancement of digital technology and the transformation of the labor market require vocational high schools (SMKs) to produce graduates who are not only technically competent but also proficient in twenty-first-century…
ury skills. The Office Management and Business Services (MPLB) program requires a quality assurance system capable of supporting the development of critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration skills. This study aims to analyze the implementation of the quality assurance system in SMKs within the MPLB program, examine efforts to strengthen twenty-first-century skills, and identify challenges encountered in its implementation. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed in four public vocational high schools in the Special Region of Yogyakarta through interviews and document analysis. The findings reveal that the quality assurance system is implemented through the evaluation of educational report cards, program monitoring, curriculum alignment with business and industrial partners (DUDIKA), and the strengthening of a school quality culture. The development of twenty-first-century skills is promoted through active and industry-based learning approaches, including Project-Based Learning, Problem-Based Learning, Teaching Factory, and student-centered learning. However, implementation continues to face challenges, including suboptimal coordination, limited teacher competencies, inadequate technological facilities, and insufficient industrial and financial support. The novelty of this study lies in integrating the quality assurance system with the development of twenty-first-century skills specifically within the MPLB program, positioning educational quality not merely toward compliance with standards but also toward the formation of adaptive and work-ready graduates.
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:This study is motivated by the low level of senior high school students’ critical thinking skills in Biology learning in Indonesia and the urgent need for instructional innovations that effectively foster higher-order thinking…
thinking skills. The primary research problem lies in the inconsistency of findings from previous studies regarding the effectiveness of Project-Based Learning, thus necessitating a comprehensive analysis to obtain more robust and integrated conclusions. The study aims to examine the effect of Project-Based Learning on students’ critical thinking skills and to identify moderating factors influencing this effect through a meta-analysis of 27 relevant studies. The results indicate that Project-Based Learning has a significant impact, with a cumulative effect size of 0.98, categorized as large and consistent, supported by low heterogeneity (I² = 18.70%) and strong resistance to publication bias. The findings further reveal that critical thinking indicators serve as the most dominant moderating factor, while sample size and additional variables do not show significant influence, and the standalone model demonstrates slightly higher effectiveness than combined approaches. The conclusion affirms that Project-Based Learning is effective in enhancing critical thinking skills through contextual, active, and student-centered learning. The novelty of this study lies in the systematic integration of multiple studies through meta-analysis, producing strong empirical evidence, as well as the comprehensive identification of moderating factors that have been rarely explored, thereby contributing both theoretically and practically to evidence-based Biology education development.
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: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:This study examines the effectiveness of implementing Collaborative Learning as a strategy to strengthen Literasi digital among elementary school students, emerging as a response to challenges related to students’ limited…
ted ability to access, understand, and utilize digital information critically and responsibly. The main problem addressed in this research concerns the lack of learning models capable of integrating cooperation, creativity, and critical thinking skills with digital competencies relevant to 21st-century demands. Employing a descriptive qualitative method supported by a literature review, the data were collected from various scientific sources such as books, journals, articles, and previous studies. The findings indicate that Collaborative Learning effectively enhances students’ Literasi digital skills through activities emphasizing interaction, discussion, problem-solving, and the use of digital platforms such as Google Classroom, Canva, Kahoot, and Padlet. The teacher’s role as a facilitator is crucial in creating an active, adaptive, and student-centered learning environment. Challenges such as limited devices and internet access still arise, yet these can be mitigated through teacher competency development, parental support, and the optimal use of accessible digital resources. The study concludes that integrating Collaborative Learning with Literasi digital not only improves academic competence but also fosters a learning ecosystem that is engaging, participatory, and aligned with technological advancements. The novelty of this research lies in highlighting that student collaboration, when combined with appropriate technological integration, can serve as an effective strategy for strengthening Literasi digital sustainably at the elementary school level.
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.