Empowering Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills During Pandemic Through Contextual Distance-Learning in Biology

The 21st century requires several skills to deal with today's problems, including critical thinking and problemsolving skills. Distance learning was applied in order to avoid the transmission of Covid-19. Distance learning causes students to learn contextually from the environment directly. This article discusses the potential of contextual learning through distance learning to be applied during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is belong to literature review to answer the problems about: 1) how contextual learning contributes to improving critical thinking and problem solving skills, and 2) how contextual learning is carried out through distancelearning. The results showed that the learning components including constructivism, inquiry, questioning, community learning, modelling, reflection, and authentic assessment can empower critical thinking core skills as well as problem solving skills. In implementing contextual distance learning must pay attention on several things: the method used must develop deep thinking skills, using synchronous and asynchronous media according to student characteristics, using learning resources by design and by utilization, maintaining the best possible communication between class members, and making clear guidance about the learning activities carried out by students.