<![CDATA[This study aims to examine the effect of implementing the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model assisted by Wayground.AI on students’ critical thinking skills in the Microteaching course. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group and in-depth interviews. The sample consisted of two classes of Economics Education students at Universitas Negeri Medan: a control group (12 students) and an experimental group (11 students). Research instruments included a 20-item multiple-choice test to measure critical thinking and semi-structured interview guidelines. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the two groups, with the experimental group achieving a mean score of 86.00 compared to 73.91 in the control group. The independent sample t-test yielded a value of 7.022 with a significance level of 0.000 < 0.05, confirming that PBL assisted by Wayground.AI positively influences students’ critical thinking skills. Qualitative findings supported the quantitative results, showing that students perceived Wayground.AI as an interactive tool that enhanced engagement, fostered independent learning, and strengthened analytical and evaluative abilities. Challenges identified included limited internet access and initial digital literacy gaps. Overall, the integration of PBL with AI-based technology demonstrates effectiveness in improving learning quality and developing higher-order thinking skills among prospective teachers.]]>
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