<![CDATA[Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk: (1) meningkatkan kemampuan berpikir kritis peserta didik melalui penerapan metode pembelajaran problem solving berbantuan media informasi, dan (2) mendapatkan bukti peningkatan kemampuan berpikir kritis peserta didik setelah penerapan metode pembelajaran problem solving berbantuan media informasi. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tindakan kelas yang terlaksana dalam dua siklus. Jenis tindakan yang dilakukan adalah pembelajaran IPS dengan metode problem solving berbantuan media informasi. Hasil penelitian dengan analisis statistik deskriptif persentase, menunjukkan terdapat peningkatan kemampuan berpikir kritis yang ditunjukkan dengan peningkatan skor rata-rata pada pra siklus = 63,58 (kurang kritis), siklus I = 73,30 (cukup kritis), dan siklus II = 80,40 (kritis). Persentase jumlah peserta didik yang memiliki skor individual dengan kriteria kritis juga mengalami peningkatan, yaitu pada pra siklus = 16,67%, siklus I = 58,33%, dan siklus II = 91,67%. Peningkatan kemampuan berpikir kritis tersebut diikuti dengan peningkatan nilai hasil belajar kognitif, yaitu pada pra siklus = 68, pada siklus I = 76, dan pada siklus II = 83. Persentase ketuntasan hasil belajar individu juga mengalami peningkatan, yaitu pada pra siklus = 25%, siklus I = 50%, dan siklus II = 83%, yang berarti telah mencapai target ketuntasan belajar klasikal. Dengan demikian metode problem solving berbantuan media informasi terbukti dapat meningkatkan kemampuan berpikir kritis peserta didik pada pembelajaran IPS di kelas VIII F SMP Negeri 1 Salaman, Kabupaten Magelang. Kata kunci: metode problem solving, kemampuan berpikir kritis, media informasi. ______________________________________________________________INCREASING THE CRITICAL THINKING SKILL OF STUDENTS IN SOCIAL STUDIES THROUGH THE PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD ASSISTED BY INFORMATION MEDIAAbstract This study aims: (1) to increase students’ critical thinking skill through the implementation of the problem solving method assisted by information media, and (2) to gain evidences the increase of students’ critical thinking ability after the implementation of the problem solving method assisted by information media. This research was a classroom action research study which was carried out in two cycles. The action done was the teaching of social studies through the problem solving method assisted by information media. The result shows that the problem solving method assisted by information media is able to increase students’ critical thinking ability, as shown by the average score of critical thinking ability, which was 63.58 (less critical) in the Pre Cycle test, 73.30 (quite critical) in Cycle I, and 80.40 (critical) in Cycle II. The percentage of the students that have individual score in critical criteria increased too, which was 16.67% in the Pre Cycle, to 58.33% in Cycle I, and was 91.67% in Cycle II. The increase in the critical thinking skill is followed by the increase in the cognitive learning result which was proved by the increase in the average of learning achievement, which was 68 in the Pre Cycle, 76 in Cycle I, and 83 in Cycle II. The percentage of the students reaching individual mastery learning (80) increased too, which was 25% in the Pre Cycle, and increased to 50% in the Cycle I, and increased 83% in Cycle II, which means that the target classical mastery learning (80%) can be achieved. Thus the problem solving method assisted by information media can improve the critical thinking skill in social studies of the students of grade VIII F of SMP Negeri 1 Salaman, District of Magelang. Keywords: problem solving method, critical thinking ability, information media]]>
