Future Space: Studies in Geo-Education
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): Future Space: Studies in Geo-Education

Blended vs. Online Discovery Learning: Enhancing Students' Critical Thinking Skills

Eky Billy Revanda (Universitas Negeri Malang)
Hadi Soekamto (Universitas Negeri Malang)
TAN Geok Chin Ivy (Nanyang Technological University)



Article Info

Publish Date
09 Apr 2026

Abstract

This study investigates the comparative efficacy of Blended Discovery Learning (BDL) versus fully Online Discovery Learning (ODL) in fostering critical thinking skills within geography education. Amidst the rapid digitalization of pedagogy, the structural resilience of inquiry-based models across varying delivery configurations remains a critical concern. Utilizing a quasi-experimental approach with a nonequivalent posttest-only control group design, this research employed the geographic theme of cultural preservation in Malang City as a complex spatial stimulus for student inquiry. Participants were selected via randomized assignment from a homogenous student population to ensure baseline equivalency in geographic proficiency. Data were elicited through a validated essay instrument comprising five higher-order thinking indicators and analyzed using Independent Sample T-Tests. Statistical analysis yielded a significance value of p = 0.071; however, subsequent Cohen’s d calculation revealed a moderate effect size (d = 0.43), indicating a marginal pedagogical advantage for the blended discovery configuration. These findings suggest that while both modalities are robust, the hybrid approach provides a slightly more intensive scaffolding for geographic reasoning. Crucially, the results imply that the inherent constructivist nature of the Discovery model maintains its functional integrity across diverse digital environments, offering significant pedagogical flexibility. This study contributes to the discourse on hybrid geography education by demonstrating that the choice of instructional platform while influential does not compromise the core cognitive benefits of discovery-based inquiry.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

js

Publisher

Subject

Earth & Planetary Sciences Education

Description

Aim and Scope Future Space: Studies in Geo-Education Aim: The primary aim of Future Space: Studies in Geo-Education is to serve as an international forum for scholarly research, analysis, and dialogue concerning innovative methodologies, progressive practices, and transformative insights within the ...