The Effect of STEM-Integrated Project Based Learning on Students’ Critical Thinking Skills in Environmental Pollution Material in Junior High School

Authors

  • Berlyana Dela Puspita Amalia Universitas Negeri Malang
  • Hari Wisodo
  • Ferdi Dwi Sagitha

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30736/seaj.v8i2.1463

Keywords:

environmental pollution, Project-Based Learning, Junior high school, STEM, critical thinking

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyze the effect of the implementation of PjBL or “Project Based Learning” integrated with STEM on students’ critical thinking skills in environmental pollution material in junior high school. A quantitative approach was used through a pre-experimental design in the form of “One Group Pre-test-Post-test Design”. The research subjects consisted of 30 seventh-grade junior high school students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using an essay test instrument developed based on critical thinking skill indicators as explained by Ennis. Furthermore, the data were analyzed through the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, paired sample t-test, and N-Gain analysis. The analysis showed that the pretest and post-test data were normally distributed. Hypothesis testing showed a significant difference between students’ critical thinking skills before and after the treatment through the value < 0.001. The average N-Gain value was 0.3993, which was in the moderate category. These findings indicate that the implementation of STEM-integrated PjBL is quite effective in improving students’ critical thinking skills in environmental pollution material.

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Huda, M., Septaria, K., Rosdiana, S. R., Shafikha, R., & Salami, W. (2026). DEVELOPING AUGMENTED REALITY-BASED LEARNING MEDIA FOR TSUNAMI MITIGATION TO ADDRESS STUDENT MICRO-LEARNING CHALLENGES. JPPIPA (Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA), 11(1), 33-47.

Fatharani, A., Madlazim, M., Anggaryani, M., Satriawan, M., & Septaria, K. (2026). Learning from Earthquakes: The Role of Socio-Scientific Issues in Developing Students’ Science Argumentation Skills. Prisma Sains: Jurnal Pengkajian Ilmu dan Pembelajaran Matematika dan IPA IKIP Mataram, 14(1), 123-143.

Hendratmoko, A. F., Fauziah, A. N. M., Susiyawati, E., Astriani, D., Nurita, T., Martini, M., ... & Boey, A. (2026). Integrating ChatGPT-driven self-assessment and Debate Based on Inquiry Learning (DBOIL) to enhance students’ argumentation skills: Leveraging AI for quality science learning aligned with SDG 4. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 696, p. 02005). EDP Sciences.

Septaria, K., Asrori, M., Setyo, C. Y., Faridah, F., Anam, M. K., Sukardi, S., & Kholiq, A. (2025). Pemberdayaan Guru Ma'arif melalui Pemanfaatan Deep Learning Engagement Tools untuk Peningkatan Literasi Digital dan Pedagogis. Bhakti Nusantara: Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 1(1), 25-39.

Septaria, K., Fatharani, A., & Baihaqi, A. (2025). Are Scrapbooks Able to Increase Tsunami Disaster Literacy? An Analytical Study of Junior High School Students Materials. SEJ (Science Education Journal), 9(2), 115-133. https://doi.org/10.21070/sej.v9i2.1656

Septaria, K., Fatharani, A., Supardi, Z. A. I., Suyono, S., & Regita, M. A. (2025). Pengembangan Sikap Ilmiah Abad 21 Melalui Lembar Kerja Berbasis Teori Pembelajaran Sosial pada Materi Listrik Statis. Jurnal Penelitian Sains dan Pendidikan (JPSP), 5(1), 65-86. https://doi.org/10.23971/jpsp.v5i1.9758

Sho'idah, Y., Septaria, K., & Wulandari, S. A. (2025). Analysis of Student Scientific Communication Based on The Development and Use of Diorama Media Using The Guided Inquiry Model. Reforma: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran, 15(1), 24-47. https://doi.org/10.30736/reforma.v15i1.1207

Hendratmoko, A. F., Puspitarini, S., Budiyanto, M., Rahman, N., Septaria, K., & Marpuah, S. (2025). Think-Aloud Protocol as a Method for Exploring and Understanding the Argumentation Skills of Pre-Service Science Teachers. Prisma Sains: Jurnal Pengkajian Ilmu dan Pembelajaran Matematika dan IPA IKIP Mataram, 13(2), 268-282. https://doi.org/10.33394/j-ps.v13i2.15214

Septaria, K., Fatharani, A., Dewanti, B. A., & Najawa, W. C. (2024). Designing Pirposal-learning based Module integrated with Socio-Scientific Issue to Enhance Students’ Scientific Reasoning Skill. Indonesian Journal of Mathematics and Natural Science Education, 5(2), 122-134. https://doi.org/10.35719/mass.v5i2.162

Septaria, K., Nissak, K., & Wulandari, S. A. (2023). Student Identity and Guided Inquiry Learning in Junior High School Students: A Correlation Analysis. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(10), 8351-8358. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i10.4584

Septaria, K., Dewanti, B. A., & El Afidah, M. I. (2020). Development of module disaster mitigation based on STEM for secondary schools. JPPIPA (Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA), 5(2), 61-68. https://doi.org/10.26740/jppipa.v5n2.p61-68

Septaria, K. (2019). Mengeksplorasi Argumentasi dan Pengetahuan Pendidik Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam (IPA) tentang Pemanasan Global. PEDAGOGIA: Jurnal Pendidikan, 8(2), 247-256. https://doi.org/10.21070/pedagogia.v8i2.2369

Septaria, K., & Fatharani, A. (2022). Analisis Penggunaan Software PlantNet Terhadap Pemerolehan Konsep Dan Keterampilan Prosedural Siswa. Indonesian Journal of Educational Science (IJES), 5(1), 73-83. https://doi.org/10.31605/ijes.v5i1.1604

Septaria, K., Dewanti, B. A., & Habibbulloh, M. (2019). Implementasi metode pembelajaran spot capturing pada materi pemanasan global untuk meningkatkan keterampilan proses sains. Prisma Sains: Jurnal Pengkajian Ilmu dan Pembelajaran Matematika dan IPA IKIP Mataram, 7(1), 27-37. https://doi.org/10.33394/j-ps.v0i0.1379

Septaria, K., & Fatharani, A. (2022). Manga versus webtoon: Alternative science learning module based on Dr Stone. Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan IPA, 8(1), 11-22. https://doi.org/10.21831/jipi.v8i1.43389

Septaria, K., & Haque, E. H. (2022). Upaya Peningkatan Pengetahuan Masyarakat terhadap Covid-19 Menggunakan Media Poster. TAAWUN, 2(02), 115-124.

Septaria, K., Sholihin, M., Kholiq, A., Hayati, E., & Maulana, V. I. P. (2022). Peningkatan Kualitas Pendidik dan Pembelajaran Menuju Madrasah yang Ungggul dan Berkelanjutan. Jurnal Berdaya Mandiri, 4(2), 167-181. https://doi.org/10.31316/jbm.v4i2.1742

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Published

2026-09-30

How to Cite

Berlyana Dela Puspita Amalia, Hari Wisodo, & Ferdi Dwi Sagitha. (2026). The Effect of STEM-Integrated Project Based Learning on Students’ Critical Thinking Skills in Environmental Pollution Material in Junior High School. Science Education and Application Journal, 8(2), 162–169. https://doi.org/10.30736/seaj.v8i2.1463