Assessment of Critical Thinking Skills in STEM-Based Science Learning Through Project Assignments

Abstract

Critical thinking skills are one of the 21st century learning skills that students must have, considering that the rapid development of science and technology causes more problems that arise in everyday life. Critical thinking skills are related to skills in using various reasons in various situations, thinking systematically, and being able to make decisions and solve problems. The development of these skills can be done through STEM-based science learning. To find out how far the students' critical thinking skills are, it is necessary to assess them. Assessing these skills can be done through the project assignment method. Project-based learning can encourage students to explore their abilities and potential, conduct experiments, think rationally and logically, solve problems during the project, and discover new knowledge or verify existing concepts. The results of this study indicate that the assessment of critical thinking skills in STEM-based science learning through project assignments is valid (with AVI (Aiken's Validity Index) of 0.958) and reliable (Cronbach Alpha test with a value of 0.717> r table). The average value of critical thinking skills of students after being measured using the assessment instrument was 69/100 (good category).

Investigating perceptions of primary and preschool educators regarding incorporation of educational robotics into STEM education

“…In summation, STEM education embraces an interdisciplinary modality, assimilating scientific principles to confer practical experiences in solving predicaments. Its overarching objective is to cultivate scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical literacy by establishing contextual linkages to real-world scenarios, thereby nurturing critical thinking abilities (Dewanti et al, 2021;Parno et al, 2021).…”