Pengaruh Media Game Edukasi Berbasis STEM Topik Penjernihan Air Berbahan Kimia Alam terhadap Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis dan Hasil Belajar di SMA

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effect of STEM-based educational game media on the topic of water purification using natural chemical materials on students’ critical thinking skills and learning outcomes in high school. The research was motivated by the low level of critical thinking skills and learning outcomes among Indonesian students, as well as the need for innovative and contextual learning. The integration of STEM approaches with educational games is used to create engaging, interactive, and real-world-relevant learning experiences. This research employed a quasi-experimental method using the Nonequivalent Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design. The subjects were tenth-grade students at SMAN Pakusari, with class X-7 as the experimental group and X-8 as the control group. Instruments included pretest and posttest items as well as observation sheets. Data were analyzed using t-test and ANCOVA with a 5% significance level. The results indicated that the STEM-based educational game media had a significant effect on students' critical thinking skills (sig. 0.006) and learning outcomes (sig. 0.000). The average posttest scores for both critical thinking and learning outcomes were higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Therefore, the use of STEM-based educational game media has proven effective in improving students' critical thinking skills and learning outcomes on the topic of environmental pollution in high schools.