The impact of implementation of STEM integrating project-based learning on students’ problem-solving abilities

Abstract

Problem solving is one of the higher thinking skills required and must be built by students. This study aims to examine the ability of students to solve problems through the implementation of the STEM approach integrating PjBL model on the Immune system. This study was carried out at senior high school in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar district. This study was an experimental pretest design with a non-randomized control group. The population was all 11th-grade students from both schools. Thus, the Science Class 1 and 3 (of SMAN 5 Banda Aceh) and the science class 1 and 4 (of SMAN 1 Darul Imarah) were selected as the sample. The test attached in the student working sheets, which was constructed using an Engineering Design loop, is the instrument used to assess the problem-solving capacity. The data from the study have been processed and descriptively analyzed. The results showed that the STEM approach integrating PjBL model could improve the abilities of students to solve problems. Therefore, the implementation of STEM approach combined with PjBL can be used as a strategy for teachers to carry out learning activities to enhance the meaningful learning and student’s capability in solving problem of biology content.