The Effect Of Realistic Mathematics Education On Elementary Students’ Critical Thinking Skills

Abstract

Abstract Critical thinking becomes the most important skill in facing challenges and solving problems in everyday life. However, several studies describe students’ critical thinking skills as being low. This condition is revealed from several studies that have been carried out, both by international institutions and individual researchers. One effort that can be done is to apply a learning model that is thought to improve critical thinking skills, one of which is the Realistic Mathematics Education Learning Model. This research is in the form of a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group design. The population in this study were Majalengka Regency Elementary School students in the 2019/2020 school year with a sample of fourth-grade students at SDN Baturuyuk II Dawuan. Samples were taken as many as two classes, namely the experimental class the Realistic Mathematics Education Learning Model, and the control class that applied conventional learning. The results showed that increasing students’ critical thinking skills that obtained learning using the Realistic Mathematics Education Learning Model was better than students who used conventional learning.