<![CDATA[This preliminary study aimed to determine the initial condition of students’ critical thinking skills in sound wave material as a basis for implementing the Predict–Observe–Explain (POE) learning model assisted by smartphone sensors. Methodology – The study employed a descriptive qualitative-quantitative approach involving one physics teacher and 10 Grade XI science students at SMA Bina Negara 1 Baleendah. Data were collected through semi-structured teacher interviews, a 23-item student questionnaire, and a diagnostic pretest consisting of six contextual essay questions. Data were analyzed descriptively using thematic analysis, mean scores, and percentage achievement by critical-thinking indicators. Findings – Students’ critical thinking skills were categorized as low, with an average pretest score of 48.5 out of 100, and all students had not reached the minimum competency criterion of 70. The learning process remained dominated by teacher-centered instruction, while smartphone sensors and the POE model had not been optimally implemented. Novelty – The study provides an empirical baseline for integrating POE learning with smartphone sensor technology, particularly for sound wave concepts. Significance – The findings may support physics teachers and researchers in designing more interactive, contextual, and data-based learning to foster students’ critical thinking skills.]]>
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