Improving Creative Thinking Skills in Electrochemistry: Implementation of Inquiry-Based Student Activity Sheets Integrated with Practice Kit

Data from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) released by the OECD indicate that Indonesian students’ creative thinking skills (CTS) remain low. One effort to improve these skills is the implementation of inquiry-based learning supported by teaching materials that facilitate students’ exploration of electrochemistry concepts. Observations at SMA Negeri 1 Badegan showed that students experienced difficulties in understanding concepts of electrochemistry, while learning was conducted using conventional methods. Students’ CTS had not developed optimally. This study aimed to determine the improvement of students’ CTS through the implementation of inquiry-based student activity sheets (LAS) integrated with practice kits in electrochemistry learning. The LAS used in this study was adapted from development research and had been declared valid, practical, and effective in supporting CTS. This study employed a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental method using a pretest-posttest control group design. The research subjects consisted of two classes of 12th-grade students at SMA Negeri 1 Badegan, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using CTS tests and implementation observation sheets. Data analysis included N-Gain, normality, and Mann-Whitney tests. The results showed that the experimental class had an average N-Gain of 0.816, categorized as high, while the control class obtained an average N-Gain of 0.624, categorized as moderate. The Mann-Whitney test indicated a difference in the improvement of CTS between the two classes. Therefore, inquiry-based LAS integrated with practice kits resulted in greater improvement in CTS than conventional learning