Pengaruh Pendekatan STEAM terhadap Kemampuan Berpikir Kreatif Siswa SMP pada Materi Perbandingan

Abstract

Creative thinking ability is an important competence in 21st-century learning. However, mathematics instruction in schools still tends to focus on mastering formulas and procedures, resulting in limited opportunities for students to develop ideas, explore alternative solutions, and generate original thinking. This condition leads to students’ creative thinking ability, particularly on the topic of ratio, being less than optimal. One effort that can be made to improve this ability is through the implementation of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning approach. This study aims to determine the effect of the STEAM approach on junior high school students’ creative thinking ability in learning ratio. This research used a quasi-experimental method with a nonequivalent control group design. The experimental class applied the STEAM approach combined with Problem Based Learning (PBL), while the control class used a Deep Learning approach combined with PBL. The study was conducted at SMP Negeri 3 Bondowoso in the 2025/2026 academic year, with class VII F as the control group and class VII G as the experimental group, selected through cluster random sampling. The research instruments consisted of pretest and posttest essay questions designed to measure students’ creative thinking ability. The Mann-Whitney test results showed a significance value of 0.003 < 0.05, so H_0 was rejected and H_1 was accepted. There was a significant difference between the two groups, where the experimental class achieved higher creative thinking scores than the control class. This finding was supported by the effect size analysis (Cohen’s d) of 0.74, which is classified as a medium effect. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the STEAM learning approach has an effect on the creative thinking ability of junior high school students in the topic of ratio.