Students’ Level of Achievement and Communication Skills Through Project-Based Learning (PBL) Approach: ‘My Roller-Coaster’ In Science Learning

Abstract

In moving towards world-class education, Malaysia needs to bring about a change that will impact the world of education. Therefore, the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) has examined the things that need to be implemented and strive to succeed. In line with the goals and times, KPM has implemented 21st-century learning (PAK21) starting in 2014. PAK21 is said to be a student-centred learning process. Several elements are applied as the basic standards in PAK21, namely communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and the application of values and ethics. One pedagogical approach that stimulates 21st-century learning (PAK21) is the project-based learning approach (PBP). PBP is a long-term approach that celebrates students' abilities, thinking skills, and talents by producing artefacts or products such as posters, disinfectants, construction of hurricane tanks, drama staging, and more. The main objective of this study was to identify the improvement of students' communication skills through project-based learning (PBL) approach: 'My Roller-Coaster' in science learning. This study is analyzed descriptively and uses a quantitative approach. The study sample consisted of 40 Form 3 students who took the Secondary School Standard Curriculum (KSSM). This study showed a difference in the level of achievement of Science subjects between the treatment group and the control group in the post-test with 53.4%. In contrast, the improvement in the treatment group's achievement level was more significant than the control group, with a mean difference of the treatment group (8.3) compared to the control group (4.8). The findings also showed an improvement in the communication skills of the treatment group (PBL) by 82.9%. Studies show that the PBP approach can improve students' communication skills and increase the level of achievement in science learning. Thus, the PBP: 'My Roller-Coaster' approach can be used to complement science learning in the classroom.