The Influence of the Search, Solve, Create, and Share (SSCS) Learning Model Based on the STEM Approach on the Critical Thinking Skills of Junior High School Students Yora Ahyalina, Annisa Nur Khasanah
Sebelas Maret University
Abstract
In the context of 21st century education, students are increasingly required to develop four key competencies, with critical thinking emerging as one of the most crucial. This research explores how the Search, Solve, Create, and Share (SSCS) learning model, when combined with STEM (Scince, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) approach, can enhance critical thinking skills among junior high school students. Utilizing a quasy experimental method with non equivalent control group design, the study involved 56 seventh grade students from Junior High School 24 Surakarta, who were equally divided into an experimental class and a control class. The experimental class engaged in learning activities based on the SSCS STEM framework, while control class followed by convensional discovery learning model. To evaluate students critical thinking, pretest and posttest were administered using essay question aligned with six indicators of facione, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and self regulation. Based on the results of the ancova test, a significant difference was observed between the posttest scores of the two groups (p less than 0.05), where the experimental group achived the higher mean score of 86.32, compared to 65.14 in the control group. This findings demonstrate that implementing the SSCS model with a STEM approach can significantly improve students involvement in learning, while also strengthening the connection between school content and real life problem solving. As such, this learning model holds great potential for promoting 21st century skills, especially in the context of science education at the junior secondary level.
