Guided Discovery Learning in Chemical Bonding: An Examination of Students' Critical Thinking Skills and Character Values

In contemporary education, it is important to cultivate cognitive and emotional abilities to equip students with the necessary skills such as critical thinking to effectively grapple with complex scientific ideas and practical problems. However, the critical thinking profile of Indonesian students is not impressive. This study aims to train students' critical thinking skills and character values in chemical bonding learning using the guided discovery model. This study involved high school students. This study used a Group Pre-test-Post-test Design research design. The instruments used were student character value observation sheets and pre-test and post-test questions. The increase in students' critical thinking skills was analyzed by calculating the N-gain score. The results of this study indicate that the application of the guided discovery learning model improves students' critical thinking skills in terms of interpretation, analysis and inference. The interpretation pretest score was 42.5 and the posttest score was 93.3 and the n-gain score was in the high category, the analysis pretest score was 37.5 and the posttest score was 84 and the n-gain score was in the high category, while the inference pretest score was 0 and the posttest score was 69 and the n-gain score was in the medium category. Character values that often appear include independence, responsibility, hard work and communication observed as the impact of guided discovery learning. Students can practice critical thinking skills and character values well.