Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025): Indonesian Journal of Teaching and Learning for Education
Articles

Enhancing Students’ Civic Engagement through Problem-Based Learning in Civic Education at Junior High School

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  • Rina Marlina
Rina Marlina
STKIP Pasundan

Published 2025-11-01

Keywords

  • Civic Engagement,
  • Problem Based Learning,
  • Civic Education,
  • Junior High School,
  • Democratic Participation
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Enhancing Students’ Civic Engagement through Problem-Based Learning in Civic Education at Junior High School. (2025). Indonesian Journal of Teaching and Learning for Education, 1(1), 25-31. https://e-journal.berrymediaresearc.com/ijtle/article/view/5

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in enhancing students’ civic engagement in junior high school civic education. Civic education plays a crucial role in fostering students’ awareness, participation, and responsibility as young citizens. However, conventional instructional practices in civic education often emphasize memorization of concepts and legal norms, resulting in limited student participation and low civic involvement. To address this issue, this study implemented PBL as an instructional approach that engages students in analyzing and solving real-world civic problems. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group. Participants consisted of Grade VIII students from a junior high school, divided into an experimental group taught using PBL and a control group taught using conventional teaching methods. Data were collected using a civic engagement questionnaire and classroom observation sheets. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent-samples t-tests. The results indicated that students in the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher levels of civic engagement compared to those in the control group (p < 0.05). Improvements were observed in students’ participation in discussions, awareness of social issues, collaborative problem-solving skills, and willingness to express opinions responsibly. These findings suggest that PBL is an effective pedagogical approach for promoting active civic participation and meaningful learning in civic education. This study highlights the importance of adopting student-centered and problem-oriented learning strategies to strengthen civic engagement among junior high school students and to support the development of democratic competencies in formal education.
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