Abstract:Diagnostic assessment tests for students entering elementary school were conducted once, focusing solely on letter reading. However, teachers did not assess syllable, word, paragraph, or reading comprehension, leading to…
ongoing issues in early reading ability among students. This study aimed to describe the early reading ability of the first-grade students at SDN 014 Tarakan through diagnostic assessment in terms of five key aspects: reading letters, reading syllables, reading words, reading paragraphs, and comprehending information from reading. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed in this study. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The findings revealed that in the letter reading aspect, 34 out of 55 students were fluent, while 21 were not. In the syllable reading aspect, 27 students were fluent, and 28 were not. In the word reading aspect, 21 students read fluently, while 34 did not. In the paragraph reading aspect, 15 students read fluently, and 40 struggled. In the comprehension aspect, 16 students could understand the content, whereas 39 had difficulties with comprehension. The study also identified several challenges faced by students with reading difficulties. These included poor memorization of letter shapes, frequent errors such as changing, omitting, or misplacing letters, difficulty with long words, limited vocabulary, and lack of concentration while reading.
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 low level of agility among elementary school students has become an important issue in Physical Education, Sports, and Health (PJOK) learning, particularly due to the limited variation in instructional methods and the…
e decline in students’ physical activity in the digital era. This condition causes students to be less physically active, resulting in underdeveloped abilities in changing direction, body coordination, and movement balance. This study aimed to determine the effect of the traditional Galah Asin game on improving the agility of fifth-grade students at SD Swasta Advent Barusjulu. The research employed a quantitative approach using a quasi-experimental method with a One-Group Pretest–Posttest Design. The research sample consisted of 37 students selected through the total sampling technique. Data were collected using a 4x10 meter shuttle run test to measure students’ agility levels before and after the treatment. The findings revealed that the average pretest score of 25.63 seconds decreased to 22.41 seconds in the posttest, indicating an improvement difference of 3.22 seconds. The paired sample t-test results showed that the calculated t-value of 9.87 was greater than the t-table value of 2.045 with a significance level of p < 0.000, indicating that the traditional Galah Asin game had a significant effect on improving students’ agility. The game was proven to enhance agility skills, active participation, learning motivation, and students’ social interaction during PJOK learning activities. The novelty of this study lies in the utilization of the traditional Galah Asin game as a local culture-based PJOK learning strategy that not only improves students’ agility but also supports cultural preservation and strengthens elementary school students’ physical activity in the modern era.
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 evaluate the effectiveness of volleyball game–based tactical learning in improving the fundamental movement skills of students at SMP Negeri 2 Makassar. The research employed a quasi-experimental method…
hod with a non-equivalent control group design, involving 40 seventh-grade students divided into an experimental group (n=20) and a control group (n=20). The experimental group received tactical game–based learning focused on understanding game situations, decision-making, and applying tactical concepts within the context of play. In contrast, the control group followed conventional technique-based instruction emphasizing repetition of basic movements. Measurement of fundamental movement skills, particularly manipulative skills in volleyball, was conducted using the Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) test during the pretest and posttest stages. Data analysis was carried out descriptively and inferentially using paired-sample t-tests to identify changes within each group, as well as independent-sample t-tests to examine differences in improvement between groups at a significance level of 0.05. The results showed that both groups experienced significant improvement in fundamental movement skills. However, the improvement in the experimental group was statistically more pronounced than in the control group, accompanied by a large effect size indicating a strong impact of the treatment. These findings confirm that volleyball game–based tactical learning provides a more effective contribution to developing students’ fundamental movement skills compared to conventional instruction. Theoretically and practically, this study recommends the implementation of tactic-based approaches as more relevant, authentic, and competency-oriented learning strategies in physical education.
Abstract:This study aims to develop an interactive learning medium based on fundamental basketball techniques and to evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing students' active participation in physical education at the junior high…
school level. The research employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach, modifying the Borg and Gall model into nine systematic development stages, including needs analysis, design, validation, and field testing. The research subjects consisted of 30 seventh-grade students for the limited trial and 60 students for the field trial. Validation by subject matter and media experts yielded an average score of 87%, indicating that the media is highly feasible. The limited trial results showed increased student participation across three learning domains: affective (72%), cognitive (68%), and psychomotor (70%). The subsequent field trial confirmed these findings, with an average active participation score of 81%, categorized as excellent. Additionally, quantitative data from questionnaires indicated positive responses from both students and teachers, with an average score of 85%, while qualitative data from observations and interviews revealed that the media significantly improved student motivation, engagement, and conceptual understanding. The results conclude that the developed interactive learning media is content-valid, practical for implementation, and effective in enhancing students’ active participation. These findings offer empirical contributions to the development of innovative, contextual, and applicable learning media in physical education and support the reinforcement of active participation-based pedagogy at the basic education level.
Abstract:This study aims to understand the teaching methods, challenges, and character education for deaf children at SLB Karya Murni Ruteng, NTT. Using a qualitative approach with a case study design, the research involved interviews,…
views, observations, and documentation with the school principal, a second-grade teacher, and deaf students. Deaf children face significant challenges in verbal and social communication, requiring specialized teaching methods focusing on direct experiences, sign language, and intensive training such as “language immersion.” SLB Karya Murni implements contextual methods linking instructional materials to daily life, such as tactile exercises to enhance sensory perception and integrated speech training to strengthen vocal abilities. Additionally, conversation visualization programs are employed to help children understand and develop vocabulary. The study found that the learning process demands patience, creativity, and technological support to improve the cognitive and communication skills of deaf children. The school also emphasizes practical skill development through activities like woodworking and beauty salon workshops, preparing students for independent living. This research highlights the importance of inclusion-based character education, family involvement, and a supportive social environment, which are expected to enhance the active participation of deaf children in their communities. These findings are anticipated to serve as a reference for developing more effective and inclusive learning programs in other special education schools.
Abstract:This research aims to: 1) Describe the curriculum planning, curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities in the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum. 2) Describe the implementation of the curriculum, curricular,…
ricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities in the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum. 3) Describe the evaluation of the curriculum, curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities in the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum. This study adopts a case study approach to explore the issue in depth using qualitative methods. The techniques employed include interviews, observations, and documentation. The main respondents in this study are the principal and teachers of Grade I and IV at SDK Pagal 1, Cibal District, Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara. The planning of the Merdeka Curriculum at SDK Pagal 1, Cibal District, has not yet reached an optimal level. The main obstacle lies in the challenges of planning co-curricular activities, where a lack of teacher understanding and limited references are the primary issues. The implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum in this school has also not reached its full potential, particularly in co-curricular activities. The evaluation of the Merdeka Curriculum’s implementation focuses more on the aspects of teaching methods, the use of learning media, the availability of adequate facilities, and challenges in executing co-curricular activities. Therefore, further implications are highly necessary to enhance and enrich the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum in the school.