The Implementation of Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge in Teaching English to Eighth Grade Students at SMP Negeri 3 Percut Sei Tuan

The Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge is an international problem
solving activity that aims to develop students’ computational thinking skills
through logical, non-programming tasks. This research aims to describe how the
implementation of the Bebras Computational Thinking (CT) Challenge in English
teaching and to examine students’ Computational Thinking performance as well
as the challenges faced by the teacher during the learning process. This research
employed a descriptive qualitative design. The data were collected through
classroom observations, interviews, questionnaires, and students’ Bebras task
results involving 26 eighth-grade students at SMP Negeri 3 Percut Sei Tuan. The
findings showed that the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge created an
active and engaging learning environment and encouraged students to think
logically and collaborate during English lessons. The analysis of the Bebras tasks
results indicated that 12 students were categorized as having high Computational
Thinking ability (70-87), 14 students were in the medium category (52-69), and
no students were classified in the low category. The questionnaire results revealed
that most students had positive attitudes toward the use of Bebras activities in
English learning. Several challenges were identified, including students’ limited
English proficiency, inadequate learning facilities, and the teacher’s difficulty in
integrating Bebras tasks with specific English learning objectives. These factors
influenced the use of English and the overall implementation of the Bebras
activities in the classroom. This study concludes that the Bebras Computational
Thinking Challenge can be effectively implemented in English learning, while
improvements in facilities and intrusctional integration still needed. For future
researcher, it is suggested to explore the implementation of bebras in relation to
specific English or in different educational contexts to obtain deeper insights.