Exploring Critical Thinking Skills for Solving Energy Scarcity Problems: Integrating Renewable Energy Contexts in Sustainable Physics Learning
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29303/goescienceed.v7i4.2926Keywords:
Critical Thinking, Renewable Energy, Physics Learning, Sustainability, Energy Scarcity.Abstract
The global energy crisis of the 21st Century demands that education play a role in developing students' critical thinking skills regarding sustainability issues. Physics education has the strategic potential to integrate renewable energy into its curriculum. However, its implementation in schools still tends to focus on mastery of concepts rather than on the Development of higher-order thinking skills. This study aims to explore students' critical thinking abilities in solving energy scarcity problems through physics learning based on the context of renewable energy. The study used a descriptive, quantitative approach and a survey method with 33 grade XI students at SMA Negeri 7 Surabaya. The research instruments included an essay test based on Facione's six critical thinking indicators, interviews, and learning observations. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Miles and Huberman model. The results showed that the students' critical thinking skills ranged from low to very low across all indicators: interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and self-regulation. Students tended to provide incomplete, unstructured answers with minimal data and context-based arguments. These findings indicate the need to develop contextual physics learning that is problem-solving-oriented and integrated with renewable energy issues to improve students' critical thinking skills in addressing the challenges of energy scarcity.
References
Abdul, T., Ratlamwala, H., Kamal, K., Javed, H., Muhammad, S., Haider, A., Abid, M., Zafar, S., & Alkahtani, M. (2025). Energy, exergy, environmental, and exergoeconomic (4E) analysis of a fossil fuel power plant with carbon capture unit for a sustainable future. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 130, 68-84. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2025.08.056
Agusta, E. (2020). Pendekatan pendidikan matematika realistik Indonesia. Histogram: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, 1(2), 61-75.
Ainur, I., & Suprapto, N. (2024). Project-oriented problem-based learning through SR-STEM to foster students' critical thinking skills in renewable energy material. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 33(4), 526-541. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-024-10102-2
Aisyah, S., Yuliani, Y., & Raharjo, R. (2024). The students' critical thinking skills with the implementation of sustainability learning to energy conservation and transformation material based on the POE (Predict-Observe-Explain) model. IJORER: International Journal of Recent Educational Research, 5(1), 193-203.
Anggraini, W., Saqila, M. S., Suryadi, A., & Suwarna, I. P. (2025). Peningkatan kemampuan berpikir kritis peserta didik pada materi energi terbarukan melalui PjBL-STEM dengan design thinking. Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika dan Sains, 13(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.21831/jpms.v13i2.87690
Berliana, D. R., Suwarma, I. R., & Novia, H. (2024). The effect of project based learning (PjBL)-STEM in improving students' science literacy skills on topic of alternative energy. Jurnal Pendidikan Fisika dan Teknologi, 10(1), 141-148.
Cooksey, R. W. (2020). Illustrating statistical procedures: Finding meaning in quantitative data (1st ed.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature.
Dewi, N. N., Nagifea, F. Y., & Herlia, N. F. (2023). Pemahaman mahasiswa pendidikan fisika terhadap pembelajaran berbasis STEM melalui kompetensi 4C. Jurnal Tarbiyah dan Ilmu Keguruan Borneo, 4, 289-297.
Facione, P. A. (2015). Critical thinking: What it is and why it counts. Millbrae, CA: Insight Assessment.
Guo, L., Vengalil, M., Moiz, N., Abdul, M., & Wang, K. (2021). Design and implementation of virtual laboratory for a microgrid with renewable energy sources. Computer Applications in Engineering Education. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/cae.22459
Jamil, M., Hafeez, F. A., & Muhammad, N. (2024). Critical thinking development for 21st century: Analysis of physics curriculum. Journal of Social & Organizational Matters, 2(3), 1-10.
Jamilatun, S., Rhomadoni, F. R., Astuti, E., Wardhana, B. S., Idris, M., & Auliasari, P. A. (2025). Peran manajemen energi terhadap efisiensi konsumsi listrik rumah tangga di Indonesia. Prosiding Semnastek 2025.
Lia, H., & Herlina, K. (2024). Implementation of STEM-based PBL with design thinking strategies to improve students' creative problem-solving capability on renewable energy topics. Jurnal Riset dan Kajian Pendidikan Fisika, 11(2), 80-87. doi:https://doi.org/10.12928/jrkpf.v11i2.783
Nugraha, A., & Putri, A. R. (2024). Pengembangan E-LKPD Project Based Learning bertema 7th SDGs Affordable and Sustainable Energy untuk SD. Pendas: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 9(3), 2081–2094. https://doi.org/10.23969/jp.v9i3.17620
Nyoman, N., Putu, S., & Nisrina, N. (2025). Reimagining physics education: Addressing student engagement, curriculum reform, and technology integration for learning. (Lengkapi nama jurnal, volume, dan halaman.)
Pattayev, A., Genc, N., Ramankulov, S., Polatuly, S., Tuiyebayev, M., Usembayeva, I., & Rizakhojayeva, G. (2024). Evaluation of the effectiveness of using STEAM projects in teaching physics: Student interest in the field of solar energy. Qubahan Academic Journal, 4(3), 678-693.
Priyadi, R., Mustajab, A., Tatsar, M. Z., & Kusairi, S. (2018). Analisis kemampuan berpikir kritis siswa SMA kelas X MIPA dalam pembelajaran fisika. JPFT (Jurnal Pendidikan Fisika Tadulako Online), 6(1), 53-55.
Qohar, A., & Sulandra, I. M. (2021). Analisis kemampuan berpikir kritis siswa SMA kelas X dalam memecahkan masalah SPLTV. Jurnal Cendekia: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, 5(2), 909-922.
Rizki, I. A., Hariyono, E., Suprapto, N., Dawana, I. R., & Shobah, N. (2024). Renewable energy learning project in physics classroom: Achieving education for sustainable development. TEM Journal, 13(2), 1452-1460. doi:https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM132
Rosdiana, S. R., & Kusairi, S. (2019). Kemampuan berpikir kritis siswa SMA pada materi fluida statis. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Fisika, 731-737.
Sari, E. A., Ellianawati, E., Linuwih, S., & Yusof, M. M. M. (2025). Bridging science and society: PBL-based digital teaching materials on renewable energy to enhance critical thinking. International Journal of Advanced Research in Future Ready Learning and Education, 40(1), 28-42.
Sarip, N., Arafah, K., & Palloan, P. (2022). Analisis keterampilan berpikir kritis peserta didik kelas X di SMAN 10 Makassar. Jurnal Sains dan Pendidikan Fisika, 18(3), 291-299. doi:https://doi.org/10.35580/jspf.v18i3.31668
Tjiwidjaja, H., & Salima, R. (2023). Dampak energi fosil terhadap perubahan iklim dan solusi berbasis energi hijau. Jurnal Wilayah, Kota dan Lingkungan Berkelanjutan, 2(2), 166-172.
Wahyuni, S., & Novita, N. K. M. (2024). Validitas LKPD konsep energi berorientasi ESD dengan pendekatan pembelajaran berdiferensiasi. Jurnal Pendidikan Fisika Indonesia, 15(1), 95-104. doi:https://doi.org/10.26877/jp2f.v15i1.17471
