Urban Heat Island Context in Physics E-LKPD to Enhance Students’ Critical Thinking and Communication Skills

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a socio-scientific issues (SSI)-based electronic student worksheet (E-LKPD), integrated with the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon, to improve students’ critical thinking and communication skills in learning temperature and heat. The study employed a research and development (R&D) approach, using the ADDIE model. The E-LKPD was implemented through the Liveworksheets platform and evaluated at SMA Negeri 11, Semarang. Data were collected through validation sheets, practicality questionnaires, pretest–posttest assessments, and documentation. Product feasibility was analysed using Aiken’s V, while effectiveness was evaluated using independent sample t-tests, N-gain analysis, and effect size calculations. The E-LKPD achieved a validity score of 0.91 and a practicality score of 82.41%, indicating that it was valid and practical for classroom use. The effectiveness test revealed significant differences between the experimental and control groups in critical thinking skills (p = 0.01) and communication skills (p = 0.001). The experimental group also achieved higher N-gain scores in critical thinking (0.56) and communication (0.59) than the control group. Effect size analysis showed a medium effect on critical thinking (Cohen’s d = 0.668) and a large effect on communication skills (Cohen’s d = 0.874). These findings indicate that the SSI-based E-LKPD integrated with the UHI context is valid, practical, and effective in improving students’ critical thinking and communication skills in physics learning.