Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills Through Problem-Based Learning in Physics Among Secondary School Students in Sargodha, Pakistan

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of problem-based learning approach on critical thinking skills of 10^th grade students, in the subject of physics. In this quasi-experimental study the students of two intact groups of Government Comprehensive boy’s high school and Government Girls Pilot high school Sargodha , Pakistan. Two section from each school were selected and allocated as experimental and control group. A sample of 149 students was selected from two public sector secondary schools. The students of both groups were arranged with respect to their pre-test scores and were divided into three subgroups; high, average and low achievers. This experiment was carried out for a period of two months using pre-test post-test control group design. Critical thinking Test in Physics), was developed to use as pre-test and post-test. The reliability of the instrument was found to be 0.89. Parametric tests, t-test and ANOVA were used for the data analysis. On the basis of the results gotten, it was concluded that the students taught through problem based learning techniques, performed better than the students of control group on achievement and were better in their critical thinking skills (analyzing, synthesis and evaluation). It is recommended that curriculum developer may incorporate this teaching approach in the curriculum guidelines in physics for construction of intended learning outcomes for secondary level students of all kinds.