The Effect of Problem-Based Learning Strategy on Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Abstract

. This study seeks to investigate the effect of Problem-based Learning (PBL) strategy on developing the critical thinking skills of students in middle schools in a science subject. The design of this study involves a quasi-experimental design in which pre and post-tests were used to examine the development of the critical thinking skills of students. Forty students were randomly selected from a high school in Al-Mazar Al-Janoubi district in Karak governorate, Jordan for the school year 2019-2020. The students were divided into two groups (controlled and experimental) in which the students in the controlled group does not receive instruction, unlike the experimental group which receives instruction concerning (PBL) The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the tests’ scores before and after the intervention. The researcher found that PBL has an effective role in improving the critical thinking skills of the students based on the result of the mean analysis, standard deviation, and t-test. memorization, indoctrination, and neglect of students' intellectual and creative abilities. Therefore, this study examines the effect of the problem-based learning strategy (PBL) on critical thinking skills in the biology course of high school students. This study is based on a curriculum that was adapted for biology education using PBL. The present study seeks to provide an answer to the following main question: