Improving Students’ Critical Thinking Skills through Project-Based Learning Model for Grade V Students

Abstract

This research is motivated by the low critical thinking skills of fifth grade students of SDN Kota Yogyakarta. This is shown based on the results of observations and interviews with fifth grade teachers of SDN Kota Yogyakarta. This study aims to describe the learning process using the project-based learning model and describe the improvement of critical thinking skills using the project-based learning model.  This research is a type of classroom action research. This research was conducted in two cycles, each of which consisted of four stages, namely: (1) planning, (2) implementation, (3) observation, and (4) reflection. The research site was SDN Kota Yogyakarta, DI Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The subjects in this study were grade V students of SDN Kota Yogyakarta, totalling 26 students. The data collection techniques used were tests, observation, documentation, and field notes. Data analysis techniques used qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques to determine the percentage of students' critical thinking skills in cycles I and II. The results showed that after applying the Project Based Learning model in class V, students' critical thinking skills increased. This is indicated by the increasing value of student completeness in the pre-cycle of 33.3% with less critical criteria, increasing in cycle I by 56.27% in fairly critical criteria and increasing again in cycle II which reached 86.3% with very critical criteria.