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THE STEM/STEAM APPROACH TO CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Pendekatan STEM/STEAM terhadap Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis pada Siswa Sekolah Dasar: Tinjauan Pustaka Sistematis

PIONIR: JURNAL PENDIDIKAN · Vol. 15 No. 2 (2026) · pp. 254–266

DOI
10.22373/pjp.v15i2.35191
ISSN
2549-6611, 2339-2495
Published
2026-08-24
Publisher
Prodi PGMI FTK UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of STEM/STEAM education on critical thinking skills in elementary schools. The study employ is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) employing the PRISMA analysis technique. This article collected data from the Scopus database for the period 2016–2026 using the keywords “elementary school” or “primary school” and “STEAM” or “STEM” and “critical thinking.” The database inclusion criteria were date range, subject, source type, language, and document type. The search criteria in the database were the timeframe from 2016 to 2026, subject: social sciences, source type: journal, language: English, and document type: article. The search results with these limitations yielded 37 articles on the theme of the influence of STEM/STEAM on critical thinking. This study reviewed 14 articles relevant to the title and research questions. The results of this study identified the top three countries by number of publications: Indonesia, Turkey, and Spain. The dominant methodology used was quasi-experimental with a quantitative approach. The critical thinking skills of elementary school students have been shown to improve through the integration of STEM/STEAM projects into the curriculum. Keywords: STEM, STEAM, critical thinking, elementary school, systematic literature review, PRISMA

Collaboration network of the authors

40 authors · 141 co-authorship links · 5 across different organisations · showing the 40 most connected

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • State University of Semarang
  • Universitas Tidar
  • Universitas Muhammadiyah Palembang
  • Yogyakarta State University
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Ani RusilowatiState University of Semarang9
Sigit SaptonoState University of Semarang8
Wiwi IsnaeniState University of Semarang6
Arif WidiyatmokoState University of Semarang6
Bambang SubaliAffiliation unknown5
Susilo SusiloState University of Semarang5
Putut MarwotoState University of Semarang5
Woro SumarniState University of Semarang5
Tri Joko RaharjoState University of Semarang5
Wiyanto WiyantoState University of Semarang4
Zulfatul FaizahState University of Semarang4
Bambang SubaliState University of Semarang3
Ian YuliantiAffiliation unknown3
Agus YuliantoState University of Semarang3
Siti WahyuniState University of Semarang3
Siti AlimahState University of Semarang3
Aditya MariantiState University of Semarang3
Siswanto SiswantoUniversitas Tidar3
Pratiwi DwijanantiState University of Semarang3
Ian YuliantiState University of Semarang3
Sunyoto Eko NugrohoState University of Semarang3
Lisdiana LisdianaState University of Semarang3
Sudarmin SudarminState University of Semarang3
Tri Joko RaharjoAffiliation unknown2
Decky AvriliandaState University of Semarang2
Sarwi SarwiState University of Semarang2
Imam SumponoState University of Semarang2
Alvian AlvianAffiliation unknown2
Teguh DarsonoAffiliation unknown2
Nila ZahidahAffiliation unknown2
Marlina Ummas GenisaUniversitas Muhammadiyah Palembang2
Djukri DjukriYogyakarta State University2
Habibi HabibiAffiliation unknown2
Nuni WidiartiState University of Semarang2
Parmin ParminState University of Semarang2
Siti Nur KhotimahState University of Semarang1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/Pionir/oai, first harvested 6 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">THE STEM/STEAM APPROACH TO CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW</dc:title>
	<dc:title xml:lang="id">Pendekatan STEM/STEAM terhadap Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis pada Siswa Sekolah Dasar: Tinjauan Pustaka Sistematis</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Saputri, Riska Nadia</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Mulyono, Sungkowo Edy</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Ellianawati, Ellianawati</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Subali, Bambang</dc:creator>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of STEM/STEAM education on critical thinking skills in elementary schools. The study employ is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) employing the PRISMA analysis technique. This article collected data from the Scopus database for the period 2016–2026 using the keywords “elementary school” or “primary school” and “STEAM” or “STEM” and “critical thinking.” The database inclusion criteria were date range, subject, source type, language, and document type. The search criteria in the database were the timeframe from 2016 to 2026, subject: social sciences, source type: journal, language: English, and document type: article. The search results with these limitations yielded 37 articles on the theme of the influence of STEM/STEAM on critical thinking. This study reviewed 14 articles relevant to the title and research questions. The results of this study identified the top three countries by number of publications: Indonesia, Turkey, and Spain. The dominant
methodology used was quasi-experimental with a quantitative approach. The critical thinking skills of elementary school students have been shown to improve through the integration of STEM/STEAM projects into the curriculum.
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	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Prodi PGMI FTK UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-08-24</dc:date>
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	<dc:identifier>https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/Pionir/article/view/35191</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.22373/pjp.v15i2.35191</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">PIONIR: JURNAL PENDIDIKAN; Vol. 15 No. 2 (2026): PIONIR: JURNAL PENDIDIKAN; 254-266</dc:source>
	<dc:source xml:lang="id">PIONIR: JURNAL PENDIDIKAN; Vol 15 No 2 (2026): PIONIR: JURNAL PENDIDIKAN; 254-266</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2549-6611</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2339-2495</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.22373/pjp.v15i2</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/Pionir/article/view/35191/13399</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Riska Nadia Saputri, Sungkowo Edy Mulyono, Ellianawati Ellianawati, Bambang Subali</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
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