The analysis of cognitive abilities and critical thinking skills with contextual approaches on heat transfer concepts for junior high school students

This study aims to analyze the cognitive abilities and critical thinking skills of junior high school students on heat transfer concepts. The research method used is quantitative descriptive. The research subjects were Grade VII students of TB Junior High School, Jakarta. The research instruments were used the multiple-choice question to measure cognitive abilities and essay tests to measure students’ critical thinking skills. The data collection technique used is a test then conducted a descriptive analysis to determine the percentage of cognitive abilities and critical thinking skills of students. Based on the results of data analysis, the cognitive ability of students in the C1 domain is 75%. The cognitive abilities of students in the C2 domain are 68.75%, the cognitive abilities of students in the C3 domain are 43, 75%, and the abilities of the students in the C4 domain are 31.25% so the average cognitive abilities of the students are 54, 69 %. The results of the analysis of critical thinking skills show that 50% can identify the reasons stated, 37.5% of students can make agreements among sources, 43.75% of participants can deduce explanations, conclusions, and hypotheses, 12.75% can choose criteria for considering possible solutions so that the overall score is 29.69%. The results of this data analysis mean that the cognitive abilities of students in the overall category are sufficient, and the overall critical thinking skills are in a low category so that efforts are needed to improve the process and creativity in learning by applying a contextual approach continuously.