The effectiveness of integrated think-pair-share and make-a-match models on students' critical thinking in biology learning

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the think-pair-share (TPS) learning model combined with make-a-match to improve students’ critical thinking skills. This research was motivated by the low critical thinking skills of students in Indonesia due to the application of learning models and strategies that are less appropriate and innovative, so that students are less free in expressing their thoughts, which causes students’ critical thinking skills to be low. This study uses a quantitative approach with a type of quasi-experimental design research, using a non-equivalent pretest-posttest control group design involving two class samples given different treatments. The samples were taken based on a purposive sampling technique from two science classes at a senior high school in Cirebon. The data were gathered through pretest and posttest instruments. Furthermore, the data were then analysed using an independent sample t-test with SPSS software version 25. The results of this study indicate that there is a significant improvement in critical thinking skills with a significance result of α <0.05. This shows that the application of the think-pair-share model combined with make a match is effective for improving students’ critical thinking skills.