Jurnal Pendidikan Terapan
Vol 4, No 4 September (2026)

The Role of Virtual Laboratories in Project-Based Learning to Improve Students’ Critical Thinking Skills in Biology Education

Muhammad Fuad (Institut Teknologi dan Kesehatan Permata Ilmu Maros)
Risqah Amaliah Kasman (Institut Teknologi dan Kesehatan Permata Ilmu Maros)
Rahmania Rahman (Universitas Negeri Manado)
Armin Arif (Universitas Megarezky)
Herwandi Herwandi (Institut Teknologi dan Kesehatan Permata Ilmu Maros)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Sep 2026

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine changes in students’ critical thinking skills following the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) integrated with a virtual laboratory in biology learning, particularly on cell structure and function. Methods: A quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was employed at SMA Pergis Maros, Indonesia. The participants were 50 Grade X students, comprising 26 students in the experimental group and 24 in the control group. The experimental group received PjBL integrated with a virtual laboratory, while the control group received conventional instruction. Data were analyzed descriptively using pretest and posttest mean scores and normalized gain (N-Gain). Findings: The experimental group’s mean score increased from 62.69 to 64.42, representing a gain of 1.73 points, while the control group’s mean score increased from 42.29 to 59.79, representing a gain of 17.50 points. The N-Gain values calculated from group means were 0.046 for the experimental group and 0.303 for the control group. Descriptively, the control group demonstrated greater improvement. However, the absence of individual-level data prevented inferential statistical testing. Research Implications: The findings highlight the importance of evaluating instructional implementation, assessment alignment, and students’ initial abilities when integrating virtual laboratories into biology learning. Originality: This study provides context-specific descriptive evidence concerning virtual-laboratory-integrated PjBL for teaching cell structure and function in senior high school biology.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JUPITER

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Social Sciences Other

Description

Jurnal Pendidikan Terapan (JUPITER) is an open scientific forum for educational researchers,scholars and practitioners. This open access journal publishes articles related to the research results in the field of education. The journal seeks to digest innovations, issues and trends in educational ...