<![CDATA[Purpose—In the 21st century, where education emphasizes the development of holistic competencies, collaboration skills have become an important aspect of preparing students to face the complex demands of the real-world environment. This study aims to analyze the effect of discovery learning on improving students' collaboration skills in studying alternative energy sources, mainly hydropower.Methodology – This research employed a quasi-experimental design featuring a one-group pretest-posttest method, with 35 students at SMP IT Ibnu Abbas serving as participants. The sample was chosen using a random sampling approach, ensuring that every individual in the population had an equal chance of being selected. Information regarding students' collaboration skills was gathered through self-assessment using a questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods to provide an overview of the results and inferential statistics to test hypotheses and reach more detailed conclusions.Findings—The results indicate a notable enhancement in students' collaboration abilities following the adoption of the discovery learning model, with the mean score increasing from 28.49 on the pre-test to 36.34 on the post-test. A paired sample t-test validated this change, yielding a significance level of 0.000. The N-Gain assessment also demonstrated a medium effectiveness level with an average score of 0.3255. The discovery learning model successfully improved collaboration skills through active exploration, discussion, and problem-solving, underscoring its potential to promote 21st-century competencies among students.Significance – In addition, this approach provides a reference for implementing strategic steps to help high school students improve their collaborative skills, fostering essential non-academic achievements like teamwork and problem-solving for their future success.]]>
