Penerapan Model Pembelajaran Design Thinking dengan Media PhET untuk Meningkatkan Problem Solving Siswa Kelas VII SMP pada Materi Sistem Tata Surya

Abstract

Kemampuan problem solving merupakan keterampilan penting abad ke-21 dalam pembelajaran IPA, namun keterampilan problem solving siswa SMP masih tergolong rendah, terutama dalam memahami masalah dan menyusun strategi penyelesaian. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis penerapan model pembelajaran Design Thinking berbantuan media PhET dalam meningkatkan keterampilan problem solving siswa kelas VII SMP pada materi sistem tata surya. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan Quasi Experiment Design dengan desain pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group. Subjek penelitian terdiri atas dua kelas VII di SMP Negeri 1 Salam tahun ajaran 2024/2025 yang dipilih menggunakan teknik purposive sampling. Data keterampilan problem solving diperoleh melalui tes pretest dan posttest, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan independent sample t-test dan N-Gain. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya perbedaan signifikan keterampilan problem solving antara kelas eksperimen dan kelas kontrol berdasarkan hasil posttest (p = 0,019). Peningkatan keterampilan problem solving pada kelas eksperimen lebih tinggi dengan nilai N-Gain sebesar 0,60 dibandingkan kelas kontrol sebesar 0,49, meskipun keduanya berada pada kategori sedang. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa integrasi Design Thinking dan PhET mendorong siswa mengidentifikasi masalah, merencanakan strategi, melaksanakan solusi, dan memeriksa hasil secara sistematis. Temuan ini penting bagi pendidikan sains SMP karena menunjukkan potensi pendekatan tersebut sebagai alternatif pembelajaran untuk mengembangkan keterampilan problem solving secara aktif, kritis, dan kontekstual.

Problem-solving ability is a crucial 21st-century skill in science education; however, the problem-solving skills of junior high school students remain low, particularly regarding problem comprehension and the formulation of solution strategies. This study aimed to analyze the implementation of the Design Thinking learning model, supported by PhET media, to enhance the problem-solving skills of 7th-grade students regarding the solar system. A quasi-experimental approach was employed, utilizing a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The study subjects consisted of two 7th-grade classes at SMP Negeri 1 Salam during the 2024/2025 academic year, selected via purposive sampling. Data on problem-solving skills were gathered through pretests and posttests and subsequently analyzed using an independent sample t-test and N-Gain analysis. The results revealed a significant difference in problem-solving skills between the experimental and control classes based on posttest scores (p = 0.019). The improvement in problem-solving skills was greater in the experimental class (N-Gain = 0.60) than in the control class (N-Gain = 0.49), although both fell within the moderate category. These findings indicate that integrating Design Thinking and PhET encourages students to systematically identify problems, plan strategies, implement solutions, and evaluate outcomes. This study is significant for junior high school science education, as it demonstrates the potential of this approach as an alternative instructional method for developing problem-solving skills in an active, critical, and contextual manner.