Implementation of an Inquiry Learning Model with Science Literacy to Improve Student Critical Thinking Skills

The development of good learning resources on inquiry learning model with
science literacy as a strategy to facilitate active learning has become a trend in
education. Critical thinking ability is needed as a strategy to build students
competencies in problem solving and discovery as required in science learning.
This study aims to develop a set of learning material on inquiry-based learning
with science literacy for the teaching of Chemical kinetics that can improve
students' critical thinking skills and students' achievement. The study is conducted
through the development of inquiry learning models with science literacy,
standardization, and implementation of the learning model as a teaching resource
in the class. The study was carried out with involvement of 93 students in the
Department of Chemistry, Universitas Negeri Medan. Research data was presented
as students' learning outcomes, those are obtained from assessments of critical
thinking skill by using assessment sheets, and students' achievement from marks of
submitted reports and evaluation test. The results showed that a standard inquiry
learning model with science literacy has been developed for Chemical kinetics
topic, where the feasibility is categorized to be very good (M = 3.60±0.06).
Implementation of the developed learning model in the teaching and learning
activities has proven to be able to improve students' critical thinking skills.
Students' thinking abilities are classified as very good, where the achievements are
obtained in the range of 72-97%