Boosting Student Critical Thinking Ability through Project Based Learning, Motivation and Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic Learning Style: A study on Ecosystem Topic

Abstract

Background: Critical thinking is an important thing possessed by the students as an order thinking skills which support independent and research-based learning for students. One attempt to fulfill the scientific learning process is conduct a project-based learning by taking into account the motivation and learning styles of students. This study aimed to identify the effect of project based learning, motivation, and visual, auditory and kinesthetic (VAK) learning styles on high school students' critical thinking skills of the ecosystem topic. This research used quasi-experiment with 2x2x3 factorial design. Research was conducted on high school students in grade 10th in Jakarta as many as 348 students were taken by simple random sampling technique. Data was collected by a motivation and VAK learning style questionnaire and critical thinking skills test. Data was analyzed by General Linear Model Uni-variate ANOVA at α = 0.05. The whole group had a normal distributed and homogeneous data. The results showed that (1) there is the significant effect of the Project-based learning on students' critical thinking skills, (2) motivation affects students' critical thinking skills, (3) VAK learning style does not affect students' critical thinking skills, (4) the interaction between the two independent variables was fitted (learning models*motivation , learning models*VAK learning styles , and motivation * VAK learning style)and does not affect student's critical thingking skills, and (5) interaction model of learning , motivation , and learning styles affect the students' critical thinking skills. Based on the results above, students' critical thinking ability can be improved through the project-based learning by taking into several factors such as students' motivation and learning styles.

Students' Critical Thinking: A Study on Science Teaching Material Based on the Scientific Approach

“…A result of a survey on critical thinking skills conducted by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) on Indonesian students shows that students' critical thinking skills are still at a low level. Indonesia is ranked 72 out of 78 countries [10]. Several research results also reveal the same fact.…”

The Practice of Critical Thinking Skills in Teaching Mathematics: Teachers’ Perception and Readiness

“…This result indicates that mathematics teachers can apply the elements of CTS and HOTS teaching methods such as inquiry-based learning, problem-solving skills and project-based learning which suit the knowledge and skills possessed by teachers as well as aligned with student acceptance (Duran & Dokme, 2016;Kozikoglu, 2019;Rini et al, 2020). Hollins (2011) suggests that the planning and readiness of teachers in implementing lessons are essential elements in describing teachers' personality, seriousness and practice in designing highquality teaching.…”

“…Although previous studies have been of significant importance in developing the potential of students in CTS, there are still obstacles in realizing the concept of learning. Students still need to apply the fundamental aspects related to CTS because not everyone can acquire these skills naturally (Mahanal et al, 2019;Rini et al, 2020). This situation was also raised by Snyder and Snyder (2008) who found four factors which proved to be significant barriers to the proliferation of CTS namely (1) insufficient training, (2) lack of resources and information, (3) bad feelings and prejudices, and (4) time constraints.…”

A Secondary School Student’s Critical Thinking Ability Profile in Natural Science Subject Matters Based on Learning Style

“…The interaction between the learning model, motivation (high and low), and VAK learning styles affects students' critical thinking ability. So that students' critical thinking ability can be improved through the learning model by taking into several factors such as students' motivation and learning styles (Rini, et al 2020). The cause of high critical thinking ability of students, not only on the learning model and motivation level, but also there are other factors such as learning style.…”