Using Inquiry-Based Laboratory Instruction to Improve Critical Thinking and Scientific Process Skills among Preservice Elementary Teachers

Year 2019, Volume: 19 Issue: 80, 151 - 170, 15.02.2019

İrwanto - Anip Dwi Saputro Eli Rohaetı Anti Kolonial Prodjosantoso

Abstract

Purpose: Although
critical thinking skills (CTS) and scientific process skills (SPS) are the
beneficial skills needed in the 21^st century learning, the fact is
that the acquisition of these two skills is still low. Research with
a focus on improving these skills by using inquiry-based
approach is also limited. Therefore, this quasi-experimental study aimed to enhance
preservice elementary teachers’ CTS and SPS by using Inquiry-Based Laboratory
Instruction (IBLI).

Method: A pretest-posttest
control group design was executed. A total of 43 students who attended Teaching
Science in Elementary School-II Laboratory Course at the Muhammadiyah
University of Ponorogo were divided into two groups using cluster random
sampling. The experimental group (n=21)
was taught by using IBLI, while the control group (n=22) was taught by using traditional laboratory method. The
Oliver-Hoyo Rubric for Critical Thinking (OHRCT) and the Observation Checklist for
SPS (OCSPS) were administered. The data were then analyzed by using normalized
gain score and Mann-Whitney U test at
significance level .05.

Findings: There was a significant
difference in terms of CTS and SPS between control and experimental groups in
favor of experimental group students. It was found out that gained CTS score of
control and experimental group students was .58 and .80, while gained SPS score
was .60 and .81, respectively. It can be highlighted that IBLI had a
significant effect on preservice elementary teachers’ performance compared to
the conventional group.

Implications for Research and Practice:
The findings suggest that IBLI is considered as the effective method to foster
CTS and SPS of preservice elementary teachers. According to results, it is
recommended that preservice teachers need to be given opportunities to develop
hands-on and minds-on experiences in the science laboratory activities. The
lecturers should utilize IBLI to develop students’ various lifelong learning
skills.

Keywords

critical thinking skills, inquiry-based laboratory instruction, preservice elementary teachers, scientific process skills

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