Investigating correlation between vocational students’ mathematical critical thinking skill and their practice performance

Vocational school students normally join two types of lesson – theoretical lessons and practical lessons. During the Covid-19 pandemic, theoretical lessons were held using blended learning while practical lessons were done face-to-face due to its complexity if they should be designed distant learning. However, the theoretical lessons using blended learning encountered many obstacles which made the lesson less effective. Yet, theoretical lessons such as mathematics can improve student critical thinking skill which is needed in labour industry. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between mathematical critical thinking skill obtained in theoretical lesson using blended learning towards the students’ performance in practical lessons. To find out the correlation, data on mathematical critical thinking skills was taken from eleventh-grade students at one of vocational high schools in Mataram, Indonesia. The participants were selected using random sampling technique. They were given a matemathics critical thinking ability test then the results are correlated with the score of students work practice. Several interviews were also conducted to confirm the data obtained. Based on the correlation test, it was found that there was positive correlation between the mathematics critical thinking ability and the score of student’s work practice. It indicated that critical thinking in mathematics also affect students’ practical work skills at school. This finding can be the basis reason to improve some aspects of theoretical learning and the ability of vocational graduates during pandemic.