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Teachers' skills in opening and closing lessons have an important role in creating an effective and conducive learning atmosphere, especially in supporting the development of children's creativity. Opening the lesson in an interesting way can arouse students' curiosity, motivate them, and prepare their minds to receive the material being taught. Meanwhile, closing lessons creatively provides opportunities for students to reflect on learning, strengthen understanding, and develop innovative new ideas. Teachers can use various strategies in both stages, such as the use of interactive media, exploration-based activities, and reflective approaches. Opening lessons that are relevant and contextual helps create a closer connection between students and the learning material. In addition, creative closure encourages children to think critically, analyze information, and produce creative solutions to various problems. Thus, the skills of opening and closing a lesson serve not only as a technical element in teaching, but also as a way to develop students' overall creative potential. Teachers who are skilled in this aspect are able to create interesting, interactive and meaningful learning experiences, thus supporting the development of children's creativity to face future challenges.

This research aims to identify and synthesize previous research related to optimizing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in improving students' critical thinking skills in mathematics learning through a systematic literature review. Data was collected from relevant scientific articles published in the last 10 years using certain keywords through databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. The results of the literature review show that the application of PBL consistently plays a role in improving students' critical thinking abilities, especially when supported by strategies such as the use of relevant contextual problems, structured feedback, and directed teacher guidance. These findings confirm the constructivist theory which states that meaningful learning occurs when students are actively involved in authentic problem solving. However, there are variations in results across educational levels and countries, indicating the importance of contextual adaptation in the implementation of PBL. In addition, the lack of comprehensive practical guidance and long-term evaluation instruments is a major obstacle. The conclusions of this research emphasize the need to develop clearer PBL implementation guidelines and more accurate evaluation instruments to measure its impact on students' critical thinking abilities, as well as the potential of PBL in improving the quality of mathematics learning that encourages critical thinking skills as an important competency in 21st century education.

The application of the philosophy of progressive education within the Merdeka Curriculum aims to create a more student-centered education system that encourages active and contextual learning. Progressivism emphasizes the importance of hands-on experiences and the development of critical thinking skills through real projects and discussions. In the context of the Merdeka Curriculum, this approach allows students to explore their interests and talents more independently, with teachers acting as facilitators guiding the learning process. Through project-based learning, collaboration, and authentic assessment, the Merdeka Curriculum provides students with the opportunity to explore their interests and talents. This research identifies various strategies that educators can adopt to integrate the principles of progressivism, such as using active learning methods and allowing freedom in choosing learning materials. The implementation of the progressive philosophy presents several challenges, including teachers' readiness to adopt new roles, the need to adjust the curriculum to local contexts, and the availability of adequate resources. However, this application also offers significant opportunities to enhance the quality of education by producing graduates who are more adaptive, creative, and capable of solving complex problems. This study highlights how the application of progressive philosophy in the Merdeka Curriculum can increase student motivation, develop 21st-century skills, and prepare them for future challenges. Therefore, it is essential to continuously evaluate and develop this approach to align with the evolving times and national educational needs.

This study investigates the impact of contextual problem-solving on students' mathematical reasoning abilities, comparing it to traditional problem-solving exercises. The study employs a quasi-experimental design with two groups: an experimental group exposed to contextual problem-solving activities and a control group using conventional methods. The experimental group demonstrated a 24% improvement in their mathematical reasoning abilities compared to the control group. Contextual problem-solving, which integrates real-world problems into the learning process, was found to be more engaging and effective in promoting deeper understanding and application of mathematical concepts. The study highlights the benefits of contextual learning in making abstract mathematical concepts more tangible and relatable to students. The findings suggest that by connecting mathematical knowledge to real-world scenarios, students develop stronger reasoning skills and improve their problem-solving capabilities. Moreover, the study recommends incorporating more contextual problem-solving exercises into curricula and providing teachers with training on how to implement these strategies effectively. It also suggests that future research explore the long-term effects of contextual problem-solving on other learning areas, such as critical thinking and creative problem-solving. This approach not only enhances students' mathematical reasoning but also fosters a more engaging and meaningful learning environment, thus preparing students to apply their mathematical knowledge in real-life situations.

This study investigates the relationship between mathematics self-efficacy and problem-solving ability, exploring the role of the Jigsaw cooperative learning model in enhancing both factors. Self-efficacy, defined as students' belief in their ability to successfully perform mathematical tasks, has been shown to significantly impact students' problem-solving capabilities. The research focuses on understanding how this belief influences academic performance and how the Jigsaw model, which fosters collaborative learning, affects students’ self-efficacy and problem-solving skills. A survey-based research design was employed, with participants consisting of university students enrolled in mathematics courses. Data collection involved administering a self-efficacy scale to assess students' confidence in solving mathematical problems and a problem-solving test to evaluate their abilities. Path analysis was used to determine the relationship between self-efficacy and problem-solving skills, and the effect of the Jigsaw model was evaluated by comparing pre- and post-test scores between the experimental and control groups. The results revealed a strong positive relationship between self-efficacy and problem-solving ability (β = 0.45). Additionally, the Jigsaw model significantly enhanced this relationship, improving both students' self-efficacy and problem-solving performance. These findings highlight the importance of fostering self-efficacy in mathematics education and the effectiveness of the Jigsaw cooperative learning model in achieving this goal. The study provides valuable insights into improving teaching strategies in mathematics, particularly for subjects requiring critical thinking and problem-solving skills, by promoting a more interactive and supportive learning environment.

Creativity is the ability to generate new and innovative ideas that are valuable and useful in a particular context. In higher education, creativity is very important because it encourages students to think critically, solve problems effectively, and innovate in their fields of study. This study aims to test the effectiveness of using e-modules based on metacreative strategies in improving students' creativity in the Makeup and Beauty Research course at Padang State University. This type of research uses a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental method and a pretest-posttest control group design. The population of this study was students of the Makeup and Beauty study program class of 2021 with a sample size of 53 people. Data analysis techniques in this research consist of descriptive statistics, creativity assessment scale, n-gain score test, prerequisite analysis test, and hypothesis testing (Independent sample t-test). The results showed that there was a significant increase in the level of student creativity in the experimental group and the control group. The average pretest score in the control group was 56.72 and the posttest was 64.07 with an N-gain of 0.17 (low category). Meanwhile, the experimental group had an average pretest score of 60.00 and a posttest of 78.77 with an N-gain of 0.46 (moderate category). The results of the hypothesis test using the independent sample t-test showed a sig.(2-tailed) value of 0.000 <0.05, so there was a significant difference between the experimental group using e-modules based on meta-creative strategies and the control group using conventional learning methods. This shows that the use of e-modules based on meta-creative strategies is effective in improving student creativity.

This study aims to explore the application of authentic assessment by Indonesian teachers at various levels of education (elementary, junior high, high school) in Indonesia. The main problems discussed are the lack of critical thinking skills development in students and the challenges in the implementation of authentic assessment in the context of daily learning. The research method used is a qualitative approach with case studies as the main focus. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, direct classroom observations, and analysis of documents such as Learning Implementation Plans (RPPs) and student portfolios. The results of the thematic analysis highlight general patterns, key themes, and conclusions related to the benefits, challenges, and strategies in implementing authentic assessments. This research is expected to provide in-depth insights into the effectiveness of authentic assessment in improving Indonesian learning in Indonesia.

This study examines the effectiveness of Project Based Learning (PBL) in enhancing cross-cultural communication skills within international language education programs. As globalization increases, effective communication across cultures is essential, and language programs must equip students with these skills. PBL, a learner-centered instructional strategy, integrates real-world problems into the learning process, promoting student participation, collaboration, and critical thinking. The research found that students engaged in PBL showed significant improvements in communication competence, collaboration, and intercultural understanding compared to those in traditional lecture-based instruction. The study suggests that PBL not only enhances language proficiency but also fosters cultural awareness and empathy through projects involving cross-cultural collaboration and problem-solving. Furthermore, PBL offers a more effective platform for practicing language skills in real-world scenarios, as opposed to traditional methods focused on theoretical aspects. The findings demonstrate that PBL is particularly effective in international programs, where students from diverse cultural backgrounds work together to solve global issues, thus improving their ability to communicate and collaborate across cultures. The research concludes that integrating PBL into international language education programs significantly enhances students' cross-cultural communication skills. The study encourages educational institutions to adopt PBL and suggests further research on complementary strategies, including technology, virtual exchanges, and intercultural simulations.

This research aims to improve and develop students' abilities to learn how to think critically in finding solutions to problems. Based learning strategy is a learning strategy that invites students to learn independently, carry out discussions, find solutions to solve problems and be able to draw conclusions. This research aims to examine more deeply problem-based learning strategies so that students can develop their abilities to overcome complex and diverse problems. The data collection used by researchers is a literature study by studying and citing several sources from textbooks, articles, journals, modules and other publications. The use of this learning strategy is expected to improve students' problem solving abilities.