Problem-solving method to enhance students’ critical thinking

Abstract

The focus of this research is the implementation of the Problem-Solving method by students to develop their Critical Thinking Skills. Critical Thinking is the ability or way of thinking rationally, objectively, and systematically in solving a problem or answering a question. By using this ability, students are expected to think more critically, logically, structured and carefully. This study used a quantitative descriptive research method, involving 55 students (two classes combined into one) of the third semester students of 2018/2019 academic year of Informatics Management Study Program of Information Technology Department of State Polytechnic of Malang. This research was conducted when they were taking the English Informatics 2 course. In each class, the students were divided into 9 groups, consisting of three people. They were asked to make an idea for an E-commerce startup accompanied by a brief description and also the problems that might arise and presented in the form of a paper board. Furthermore, the other groups from other classes were asked to solve these problems by offering the most effective, logical and systematic and structured solutions as well as practicing their argumentative skills accompanied with its relevant data. From the explanation above, the data were obtained from student observation sheets, questionnaires, and videos. After that, the data is collected, calculated, and analyzed using SPSS. The results of this research were proven to be able to increase the level of students’ mindset in critical, and analytical manner in solving problems and effective solutions to any existing problems.

Keywords: problem solving method, critical thinking skills