The Role of Problem-Based Learning in Developing Critical Thinking and Improving Learning Outcomes of Fifth Grade Students

Authors

  • Tanti Wulandari PGRI Adi Buana Surabaya University
  • Nurmida Catherine Sitompul PGRI Adi Buana Surabaya University
  • Retno Danu Rusmawati PGRI Adi Buana Surabaya University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33394/jtp.v11i1.19375

Keywords:

critical thinking, natural disasters, learning outcomes, problem based learning, elementary school

Abstract

21st-century learning requires students to develop critical, creative, and collaborative thinking skills, as well as the ability to solve contextual problems. However, learning practices in elementary schools are still dominated by expository strategies, which render student’s passive and discourage the development of higher-order thinking skills. Research on the application of problem-based learning strategies to improve critical thinking skills and learning outcomes, particularly in natural disasters, is still limited. This study used a quasi-experimental method with a Nonequivalent Control Group Design on 104 fifth-grade students, divided into an experimental class using problem-based learning and a control class using an expository strategy. The instruments, a learning achievement test and a critical thinking test, were tested using Cronbach's Alpha in IBM SPSS Statistics 27, while pretest and posttest data were analyzed using an Independent Samples T-Test at a significance level of 0.05. The results showed a significant effect of problem-based learning strategies on improving learning outcomes and critical thinking skills, in line with constructivist theory, which emphasizes active student involvement. This strategy is more effective than expository learning and is recommended for wider implementation.

References

Abdullah, I., & Ningrum, N. (2024). The Influence of Problem Based Learning Models on Students’ Critical Thinking Ability on Natural Disaster Mitigation Material. Jurnal Pendidikan (STKIP Kusuma Negara). https://www.jurnal.stkipkusumanegara.ac.id/index.php/jip/article/download/1906/1132

Darmawati, Y., & Mustadi, A. (2023). The effect of problem-based learning on the critical thinking skills of elementary school students. Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar Indonesia. https://journal.uny.ac.id/index.php/jpe/article/view/55620

Fitriadi, F., Herpratiwi, H., Yulianti, D., Setiyadi, A. G. B., Hariri, H., Sunyono, S., Haenilah, E. Y., & Mukhlis, H. (2025). Enhancing critical thinking in elementary education: A systematic review of effective learning models. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(6). https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2025157

Hasan, A. K. (2025). Relevance of using expository learning strategies in teaching and learning activities in schools. PROSPEK. https://prospek.unram.ac.id/index.php/PROSPEK/article/download/1131/388/3938

Jelodari, Z., Zenouzagh, Z. M., & Hashamdar, M. (2025). Exploring PBL and e-PBL: implications for 21st-century skills in EFL education. Discover Education, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00773-3

Nurwidodo, N., & al., et. (2025). Assessing the enhancement of students’ critical thinking skills through PBL vs expository learning. Learning-Gate. https://learning-gate.com/index.php/2576-8484/article/download/3161/1185/4684

7. Nurwidodo, N., Zaenab, S., Hindun, I., & Wahyuni, S. (2025). Development of problem orientation model and work organization in problem-based learning at Muhammadiyah Senior High School of Batu city. JPBI (Jurnal Pendidikan Biologi Indonesia), 11(1), 424–437. https://doi.org/10.22219/jpbi.v11i1.40190

Oktaria, A. (2025). Literature analysis review application problem based learning in elementary schools. Teaching and General Education Studies. https://www.publicresearchstudy.my.id/index.php/TGES/article/download/2/2

Setiawan, F. (2023). The PBL-STS Model for Achieving Critical Thinking Skills in Elementary School Students. International Journal of Science Learning (IJSL). https://ijsl.pubmedia.id/index.php/ijsl/article/view/193

Zhang, L. (2023). A study of the impact of project-based learning on student academic achievement and thinking skills: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1202728

Downloads

Published

2026-01-27

How to Cite

Wulandari, T., Sitompul, N. C., & Rusmawati, R. D. (2026). The Role of Problem-Based Learning in Developing Critical Thinking and Improving Learning Outcomes of Fifth Grade Students. Jurnal Teknologi Pendidikan : Jurnal Penelitian Dan Pengembangan Pembelajaran, 11(1), 55–67. https://doi.org/10.33394/jtp.v11i1.19375

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): Januari

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Tanti Wulandari, Nurmida Catherine Sitompul, Retno Danu Rusmawati

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

License and Publishing Agreement
In submitting the manuscript to the journal, the authors certify that:

  • They are authorized by their co-authors to enter into these arrangements.
  • The work described has not been formally published before, except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, thesis, or overlay journal.
  • That it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere,
  • That its publication has been approved by all the author(s) and by the responsible authorities – tacitly or explicitly – of the institutes where the work has been carried out.
  • They secure the right to reproduce any material that has already been published or copyrighted elsewhere.
  • They agree to the following license and publishing agreement.

Copyright

  1. Authors who publish with JTP agree to the following terms:
  2. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
  4. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
  5. Licensing for Data Publication

Licensing for Data Publication

JTP use a variety of waivers and licenses, that are specifically designed for and appropriate for the treatment of data:
Open Data Commons Attribution License, http://www.opendatacommons.org/licenses/by/1.0/ (default)