TRANSFORMING HOTS-ORIENTED LEARNING THROUGH PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING AMONG MADRASAH IBTIDAIYAH STUDENTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW


Authors

(1) * Muhammad Sofyan Atsauri   (Universitas Islam Nahdlatul Ulama Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia)  
        Indonesia
(2)  Subaidi Subaidi   (Universitas Islam Nahdlatul Ulama Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia)  
        Indonesia
(3)  Sukarman Sukarman   (Universitas Islam Nahdlatul Ulama Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia)  
        Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


Strengthening Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) at the Madrasah Ibtidaiyah level is essential because basic education can no longer rely only on memorization, but must also develop students’ ability to analyze, evaluate, and create. This article aims to analyze the concept of implementing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and its effectiveness in improving HOTS among Madrasah Ibtidaiyah students based on findings from previous studies. This study employed a literature review method using theoretical books, official documents, conceptual articles, classroom action research, and systematic reviews relevant to PBL, HOTS, and Islamic primary education. Data were collected through documentation and analyzed using content analysis through theme identification, classification of findings, comparison across literature, and synthesis. The review indicates that PBL is effective in improving HOTS when learning begins with contextual problems, followed by student organization, guided inquiry, solution presentation, and reflection on the learning process. The effectiveness of PBL is influenced by the quality of problems, teacher facilitation, group collaboration, student readiness, and the alignment of HOTS assessment. This article affirms that PBL can serve as a learning transformation strategy in Madrasah Ibtidaiyah that not only improves higher-order cognitive abilities but also develops students’ independence, collaboration, and responsibility

Keywords

Problem-Based Learning; Higher Order Thinking Skills; Madrasah Ibtidaiyah; 21st-century learning; literature review



Full Text: PDF



References


Afandi, M., & Handayani, T. (2020). Penerapan Problem Based Learning (PBL) untuk meningkatkan Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) ditinjau dari hasil belajar mahasiswa pada mata kuliah Materi IPA MI. JIP Jurnal Ilmiah PGMI, 6(1), 88-106. https://doi.org/10.19109/jip.v6i1.4330

Agus R, A. H., & Rusdiah, N. (2024). Strategic Human Resource Management: Enhancing Competitive Advantage in Educational Institutions. MANAZHIM, 6(1), 129–145.

Hasanah, R., Munawwaroh, I., Hasanah, M., & Mundiri, A. (2024). Fostering Inclusivity: Strategies for Supporting Students with Special Needs in Mainstream Classrooms. FALASIFA: Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 15(1), 73–85.

Milki, T. G., Hailu, B. H., & Male, A. Y. (2026). Capable but Excluded: Unpacking the Systemic Barriers to Mathematics Education for Students with Blindness. Indonesian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 5(1), 14–39.

Mundiri, A., Ariska, L., & Jali, H. (2026). Tackling a Problematic Bullying; A Strategic Behavioral Management Intervention Based on Pesantren. At Turots: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 702–713.

Nisa, K., Mundiri, A., Manshur, U., & Munir, Z. (2024). Integrating Situational Leadership and Traditional Values: Enhancing Student Discipline in Islamic Boarding Schools Through Holistic Training Programs. Communautaire: Journal of Community Service, 3(2), 138–151.

Suhermanto. (2024). Inspiration In Learning: Efforts To Build Learning Enthusiasm In Junior High School. Proceeding Of International Conference On Education, Society And Humanity, 1(Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024)), 1380–1386.

Suhermanto. (2025a). Managing Character Education in Pluralistic Schools: A Model of Internalization of Interfaith Values. Journal of Educational Management Research, 3(Vol. 04 No. 03 (2025)), 792–803.

Suhermanto. (2025b). Principal Leadership Strategies for Enhancing Teacher Performance in Islamic Schools. Journal of Educational Management Research (Vol.04/No.05/2025), 4(Journal of Educational Management Resear), 1886–1898.

Tsoka, M. (2026). A sense-making approach to pre-service teachers’ use of teaching and learning materials in resource-constrained contexts. Indonesian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 5(1), 1–13.

Anderson, L. W., & Krathwohl, D. R. (2001). A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing: A revision of Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives. Longman.

Arends, R. I. (2012). Learning to teach (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Ariyana, Y., Pudjiastuti, A., Bestary, R., & Zamroni. (2018). Buku pegangan pembelajaran berorientasi pada keterampilan berpikir tingkat tinggi: Program peningkatan kompetensi pembelajaran berbasis zonasi. Direktorat Jenderal Guru dan Tenaga Kependidikan, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.

Brookhart, S. M. (2010). How to assess higher-order thinking skills in your classroom. ASCD.

Hmelo-Silver, C. E. (2004). Problem-based learning: What and how do students learn? Educational Psychology Review, 16, 235-266. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EDPR.0000034022.16470.f3

Khairullina, A., & Prastowo, A. (2024). Implementation of ICT-based Problem-Based Learning model to improve Higher Order Thinking Skills in IPAS learning in Madrasah Ibtidaiyah. Al-Adzka: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 14(2), 151-161. https://doi.org/10.18592/aladzkapgmi.v14i2.13282

Krippendorff, K. (2019). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Ramadhanti, F. T., Juandi, D., & Jupri, A. (2022). Pengaruh Problem-Based Learning terhadap kemampuan berpikir tingkat tinggi matematis siswa. AKSIOMA: Jurnal Program Studi Pendidikan Matematika, 11(1), 667-682.

Savery, J. R. (2006). Overview of problem-based learning: Definitions and distinctions. Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.7771/1541-5015.1002

Surya, Y. F., Atmoko, A., Nusantara, T., Masfufha, A., & Sumianto, S. (2025). The effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning in enhancing reflective-critical thinking skills of elementary school students in science learning. Journal of Integrated Elementary Education, 5(2), 323-338. https://doi.org/10.21580/jieed.v5i2.28077

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.

Zainal, N. F. (2022). Problem Based Learning pada pembelajaran Matematika di Sekolah Dasar/Madrasah Ibtidaiyah. Jurnal Basicedu, 6(3), 3584-3593. https://doi.org/10.31004/basicedu.v6i3.2650

Zed, M. (2014). Metode penelitian kepustakaan. Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia.




Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Sofyan Atsauri