Applying RADEC model in science learning to promoting students’ critical thinking in elementary school

Abstract

Teaching to promoting critical thinking expertise is very significant for providing students to reside in the worldwide era. Critical thinking is scholarly expertise that needs direction and practice, especially for elementary school students. The lack of teachers’ skills and ability in choosing appropriate learning model in natural science learning for promoting critical thinking for students is one of the reasons to done this study. This study aims to observe and describe the improvement of the students’ critical thinking at class IV, appearing in natural science learning after implementing RADEC model in class IV SD Negeri Surialaya, Tasikmalaya, West Java as shown from the student’s comments. This research applied a descriptive method. The instrument of the research was the observation sheets of students’ critical thinking and teachers’ activities in boosting critical thinking and of course the researcher himself. The data gathered through observation. The results showed that elementary science teachers did not orient to improving critical thinking among students, as very little of the classroom students showed in critical thinking skills. The developed model this study provides can use as a tool to assess science classes regarding improving critical thinking of the elementary school students.