The Effectiveness of the Group Investigation Cooperative Learning Method in Enhancing Student Participation and Critical Thinking Skills in Physical Education (PJOK) at SMP Negeri 2 Pegantenan, Academic Year 2026/2027
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29407/8fyc3040Keywords:
Group Investigation, , student participation, , critical thinking skills, , Physical Education, , cooperative learningAbstract
This study aims to determine the effectiveness of implementing the Group Investigation (GI) cooperative learning method in enhancing the participation and critical thinking skills of Grade VIII students in the Physical Education, Sports, and Health (PJOK) subject at SMP Negeri 2 Pegantenan during the 2026/2027 academic year. The study is motivated by the currently low levels of active participation and critical thinking skills among students in PJOK lessons, which have historically tended to be teacher-centered and emphasized psychomotor aspects without optimally engaging students' cognitive processes.
This study employs a classroom action research design utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches, conducted over two cycles; each cycle comprises the stages of planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. The research subjects consist of all Grade VIII students at SMP Negeri 2 Pegantenan, totaling [state the number] students in the 2026/2027 academic year. Data collection techniques involved student participation observation sheets, critical thinking skills tests, and documentation gathered during the learning process. Data were analyzed using descriptive quantitative and qualitative methods to observe improvements in outcomes across each cycle.
The results indicate that the implementation of the Group Investigation cooperative learning method effectively increased the participation of Grade VIII students, as evidenced by the rise in average participation scores from Cycle I to Cycle II. Students' critical thinking skills also showed significant improvement, reflected in their ability to identify problems, analyze movement strategies, and propose solutions during group-based PJOK activities. The Group Investigation method encouraged students to engage more actively in discussions, take responsibility for group tasks, and develop their analytical and decision-making capabilities.
Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the Group Investigation cooperative learning method is an effective alternative instructional strategy for PJOK to enhance the participation and critical thinking skills of Grade VIII students at SMP Negeri 2 Pegantenan. It is recommended that Physical Education teachers implement this method consistently, paying attention to time management and the formation of heterogeneous learning groups.
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