Analysis of the Teacher’s Role in Enhancing Students’ Critical Thinking Skills: Social Studies Learning at Elementary School

Zarniati Zarniati 1 Indonesia , Samuel Patra Ritiauw 1 Indonesia , Leonid Ritiauw 1 Indonesia
1 Department of Elementary School Teacher Education, Universitas Pattimura
Link Copied!
Published 2026-05-17
Vol. 5 No. 3 (2026) PAGES 1710-1724
DOI 10.51574/ijrer.v5i3.4824
Views / Downloads 64 70

Critical thinking skills are essential competencies in Social Studies (IPS) learning, yet their development depends heavily on the teacher's classroom efficacy. At Elementary School 2 Ambon, a comprehensive understanding is required regarding how teachers integrate their pedagogical responsibilities to stimulate students' critical thinking. This study aims to investigate and describe the teacher's role in improving students' critical thinking skills through IPS learning at Elementary School 2 Ambon. Utilizing a qualitative approach with descriptive methods, the research subjects included the principal, IPS teachers, and 20 students. Data were collected via observation, interviews, and documentation techniques, and analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model (data collection, reduction, display, and conclusion drawing). The findings reveal that teachers effectively perform seven main functions to foster critical thinking: (1) Educator, providing quality instructions; (2) Demonstrator, utilizing learning media; (3) Class Manager, maintaining a conducive atmosphere; (4) Facilitator, supplying learning resources; (5) Supervisor, directing student activities; (6) Motivator, providing encouragement; and (7) Evaluator, conducting test and non-test assessments. Practically, this research guides educators on diversifying instructional roles to optimize students' cognitive abilities. Theoretically, these results enrich the literature on pedagogical strategies in elementary social studies to cultivate a critical and analytical generation.

Zarniati, Z., Ritiauw, S. P., & Ritiauw, L. (2026). Analysis of the Teacher’s Role in Enhancing Students’ Critical Thinking Skills: Social Studies Learning at Elementary School. ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review , 5(3), 1710–1724. https://doi.org/10.51574/ijrer.v5i3.4824
More Citation Formats
Download Citation

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
  1. Anggraeni, D. M., Prahani, B. K., Suprapto, N., Shofiyah, N., & Jatmiko, B. (2023). Systematic review of problem based learning research in fostering critical thinking skills. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 49, 101334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2023.101334
  2. Arriah, F., & Ilhamuddin, I. (2026). Leveling Up Junior High School Students' Critical Thinking Skills: Mathematical Thinking Patterns through Polya's Theory. ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review, 5(2), 874-887. https://doi.org/10.51574/ijrer.v5i2.4384
  3. Azhari, R. A., Hidayah, N., Diani, R., & Kalifah, D. R. N. (2025). Bibliometric Analysis of Problem-Based Learning Model with STEM Approach: Critical Thinking Skills of Elementary School Students. ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review, 5(1), 55-69. https://doi.org/10.51574/ijrer.v5i1.4069
  4. Azzahra, S., & Sya, M. F. (2023). Strategi Pembelajaran Inovatif dan Kreatif di Sekolah Dasar. Karimah Tauhid, 2(1), 329–338. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.30997/karimahtauhid.v2i1.7943
  5. Dodi, I. (2019). Menggagas Pendidikan Nilai dalam Sistem Pendidikan Nasional. Didaktika: Jurnal Kependidikan, 8(3), 109–122. https://jurnaldidaktika.org/contents/article/view/73
  6. Ennis, R. H. (2018). Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum: A Vision. Topoi, 37(1), 165–184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11245-016-9401-4
  7. Guci, A. A., & Kirana, C. (2025). Peran Guru Sebagai Motivator Dalam Meningkatkan Minat Belajar Siswa Di SD Negeri 012 Minas Barat. Journal of Sustainable Education, 2(2), 60–75. https://doi.org/10.63477/jose.v2i2.165
  8. Hidayati, N., & Fauziyah, N. (2023). Peran Guru Sebagai Fasilitator dalam Mendorong Siswa Berpikir Kritis Pada Pembelajaran IPS. Dinamika Sosial : Jurnal Pendidikan Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial, 2(1), 102–112. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.18860/dsjpips.v2i1.2303
  9. Ilyas. (2022). Strategi Peningkatan Kompetensi Profesional Guru. Jurnal Inovasi, Evaluasi Dan Pengembangan Pembelajaran (JIEPP), 2(1), 34–40. https://doi.org/10.54371/jiepp.v2i1.158
  10. Irwan, I., & Aslan, A. (2024). Developing critical thinking skills of primary school students through independent curriculum learning. Indonesian Journal of Education (INJOE), 4(1), 788-803. https://felifa.net/index.php/INJOE/article/view/235
  11. Iskandar, S., Rosmana, P. S., Husna, M., Herlina, P., & Sukmawati, V. A. (2024). Strategi Pengelolaan Kelas untuk Meningkatkan Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis Siswa Sekolah Dasar. Didaktik : Jurnal Ilmiah PGSD FKIP Universitas Mandiri, 10(02), 156–165. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36989/didaktik.v10i2.3080
  12. Kayaalp, F., Meral, E., Şimşek, U., & Şahin, İ. F. (2020). A search for a method to improve critical thinking skills in social studies teaching: Writing-to-learn. Review of International Geographical Education Online, 10(3), 400-430. https://doi.org/10.33403/rigeo.719222
  13. Magdalena, I., Hidayah, A., & Woro Astuti, A. (2020). Peran Kinerja Guru Dalam Meningkatkan Prestasi Belajar Siswa Sekolah Dasar. Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Ilmu Sosial, 2(3), 383–392. https://ejournal.stitpn.ac.id/index.php/nusantara
  14. Najoan, R. A. O., Lala, W. C. I., & Ratunguri, Y. (2023). Peran Guru Sebagai Motivator Dalam Meningkatkan Minat Belajar Siswa. Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia, 4(03), 215–227. https://doi.org/10.36418/japendi.v4i03.1632
  15. Nisa, K., Sumantri, M. S., & Kurniawan, M. B. (2024). Inovasi Guru Dalam Menciptakan Pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia Yang Kreatif Dan Menyenangkan. Nizhamiyah, 14(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.30821/niz.v14i1.3661
  16. Nurlinawati, W., & Ningsih, T. (2025). Peran Guru Dalam Menumbuhkan Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis Pada Pembelajaran IPAS di SD Negeri 2 Bajong Purbalingga. Pendas : Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 10(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.23969/jp.v10i02%60.25055
  17. Pada, A., Sahabuddin, E. S., & Amir, F. (2024). Reviewing the Quality of Indonesian Social Education in the Era of Globalization. Contemp. Readings L. & Soc. Just., 16, 841.
  18. Pandey, A., Mittal, M., Ahmad, K., & Sharma, V. (2023). New age teaching pedagogy: Innovative teaching methods and their impact on educational performance of the students. Redefining Virtual Teaching Learning Pedagogy, 59-73. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119867647.ch4
  19. Permatasari, N., & Tandiayuk, S. (2023). Human resource management in education: Optimizing teacher performance for better learning outcomes. Golden Ratio of Mapping Idea and Literature Format, 3(1), 35-59. https://doi.org/10.52970/grmilf.v3i1.354
  20. Plummer, K. J., Kebritchi, M., Leary, H. M., & Halverson, D. M. (2022). Enhancing critical thinking skills through decision-based learning. Innovative Higher Education, 47(4), 711-734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-022-09595-9
  21. Risandy, L. A., Rifisian, N., & Ferryka, P. Z. (2024). Peran Guru dalam Meningkatkan Kemampuan Berpikir Kritis Siswa pada Pelajaran IPAS Kelas IV di SDN 1 Beluk. Katalis Pendidikan : Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Dan Matematika, 1(3), 285–298. https://doi.org/10.62383/katalis.v1i3.608
  22. Sain, Z. H., Aziz, A. L., & Agoi, M. A. (2024). Navigating educational challenges in Indonesia: Policy recommendations for future success. Journal of Digital Learning and Distance Education, 3(4), 1038-1046. https://doi.org/10.56778/jdlde.v3i4.339
  23. Sanjani, M. A. (2020). Tugas dan Peranan Guru Dalam Proses Peningkatan Belajar Mengajar. Jurnal Serunai Ilmu Pendidikan, 2(1), 1–9.
  24. Sasmita, R. N., Sapriya, S., & Maryani, E. (2022). Critical thinking on social studies learning for elementary school students. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 5(3), 1377-1387.
  25. Siregar, E. V. A., Jawiyah, & Dalimunthe, O. (2025). Peran Guru dalam Meningkatkan Kemampuan Berpikir Kritis Peserta Didik. Jurnal Ilmiah Penelitian Mahasiswa, 3(4), 15–20. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61722/jipm.v3i4.1024
  26. Sulistiani, I., & Nugraheni, N. (2023). Makna Guru Sebagai Peranan Penting Dalam Dunia Pendidikan. Jurnal Citra Pendidikan, 3(4), 1261–1268. https://doi.org/10.38048/jcp.v3i4.2222
  27. Wiguna, A. C., Salamah, I. S., & Rustini, T. (2023). Upaya Meningkatkan Berpikir Kritis Siswa Sekolah Dasar dalam Pembelajaran Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial. DIRASAH: Jurnal Study Ilmu Dan Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 6(1), 62–70. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.58401/dirasah.v6i1.775

Copyright (c) 2026 Zarniati Zarniati, Samuel Patra Ritiauw, Leonid Ritiauw

Creative Commons License

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

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Similar Articles

<< < 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Dimension Badge

Downloads

Downloads
Crossmark Badge
Crossmark Badge
Section
Articles
Keywords
Critical Thinking Skills Elementary School Social Studies Learning Teacher's Role