SEARCH: Science Education Research
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): SEARCH: Science Education Research Journal

The Effectiveness of the Case-Based Jigsaw Model in Improving High School Students' Critical Thinking Skills on the Digestive System Topic

Anjelika Juliantari (Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Indonesia)
I Made Sutajaya (Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Indonesia)
I Wayan Sukra Warpala (Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
29 Jul 2026

Abstract

Critical thinking is a key skill required in 21st-century education; however, the level of this skill among students in Indonesia remains low. This study aimed to assess the critical thinking abilities of 11th-grade students before and after the implementation of a case-based Jigsaw learning model and to compare these results with a class taught using the discovery learning model, focusing on the digestive system topic. A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group structure was employed. The participants consisted of class XI MIPA 1 as the experimental group (n = 34), receiving the case-based Jigsaw treatment, and class XI MIPA 2 as the control group (n = 29), receiving the discovery learning treatment. Data were collected using ten essay questions covering six critical thinking indicators and analyzed using an Independent Sample t-test and Cohen’s d effect size. The results showed a significant increase in the experimental group's mean score to 84.71 (n-gain 0.70; medium category), whereas the control group's mean score rose only to 55.52 (n-gain 0.14; low category). The difference test yielded t = 22.360 (p = 0.0001 < 0.05) and a Cohen’s d of 5.65 (≥0.80, indicating a large effect). It is concluded that the case-based Jigsaw model is more effective than discovery learning in enhancing students' critical thinking skills regarding the digestive system.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jaser

Publisher

Subject

Education Other

Description

Jurnal ini menerbitkan artikel asli tentang isu-isu dan tren terkini yang terjadi secara internasional dalam kurikulum Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam berkaitan dengan pengajaran, pembelajaran, kebijakan, dan persiapan guru IPA dengan tujuan untuk memajukan pengetahuan tentang teori dan praktik pendidikan ...