Improving fifth-grade students’ higher order thinking skills through thematic problem-based learning module: A research and development

Abstract

This study was aimed to develop a thematic problem-based learning module that was feasible and effective in improving students' fifth-grade students’ higher order thinking skills (HOTS). This research adopted a research and development (R&D) model proposed by Borg & Gall. The participants were 40 fifth-grade students purposively chosen in an elementary school in the City of Bandar Lampung, Indonesia. Data were collected using valid and reliable test instruments and analysed using a paired sample t-test with a significance level of 0.05. The findings indicate that the average pre-test was 39 and the post-test was 81. The average score on the pre-test and post-test for the control group was 45 and 75, respectively. Then, the paired sample t-test (Sig 2-tailed) of the experimental class was undertaken, receiving a significance value of 0.000 or less than 0.05, while the control class received a significance value of 0.000 or less than 0.05. Therefore, the findings that the thematic problem-based learning module significantly improves fifth-grade students’ higher order thinking skills.