The Application of Project Based Learning Model to Increase Students' Critical Thinking Skills in Learning Elementary School Social Study

Abstract

This research is motivated by the low students' critical thinking skills in learning social study. It is because their learning activities that are less centered on problem solving make learning meaningless for students. This nstudy aims to acquire an overview of students' critical thinking skills and learning outcome by appying Project Based Learning model in social study learning in the fourth grade of elementary school. The subject of this study nwas the fouth grade students of SDN Cileunyi 02 consisting of 30 students. This study was performed by using Classroom Action Research (PTK) method by Elliotn model through 3 cycle each of which consists of three actions. The instruments used included observation sheets, field notes, process worksheet (LKP), evaluation sheets, interview guides, and documentation. The results of this study show that critical thinking skills and learning outcome of the fourth grade students of SDN Cileunyi 02 improve by applying Project Based Learning model in social study learning on every cycle. In cycle I, the average value of students' critical thinking skill process is 74,4, in cycle II 81,3, and in cycle III 84,4. Furthermore, the average of students' learning outcome in cycle I is 57,6, in cycle II 70,83, and in cycle III 83. According to nthese results, it can be concluded that Project Based Learning model can improve students' critical thinking skills and learning outcome in social study learning in elementary school. Therefore, she recommend the application of this Project-Based-Learning model as one of alternatives in improving critical thinking skills in social study learning in elementary school.