Implementation of an Inquiry Learning Model with Science Literacy to Improve Student Critical Thinking Skills

The development of good learning resources on inquiry learning model with science literacy as a strategy to facilitate active learning has become a trend in education. Critical thinking ability is needed as a strategy to build students competencies in problem solving and discovery as required in science learning. This study aims to develop a set of learning material on inquiry-based learning with science literacy for the teaching of Chemical kinetics that can improve students' critical thinking skills and students' achievement. The study is conducted through the development of inquiry learning models with science literacy, standardization, and implementation of the learning model as a teaching resource in the class. The study was carried out with involvement of 93 students in the Department of Chemistry, Universitas Negeri Medan. Research data was presented as students' learning outcomes, those are obtained from assessments of critical thinking skill by using assessment sheets, and students' achievement from marks of submitted reports and evaluation test. The results showed that a standard inquiry learning model with science literacy has been developed for Chemical kinetics topic, where the feasibility is categorized to be very good (M = 3.600.06). Implementation of the developed learning model in the teaching and learning activities has proven to be able to improve students' critical thinking skills. Students' thinking abilities are classified as very good, where the achievements are obtained in the range of 72-97%.