The implementation of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) based design thinking in the ethical dilemma story project to improve student’s creative thinking and learning outcomes

Creative thinking skills play an essential role in improving student learning outcomes. The creative thinking skills of class X students are still lacking, which is only limited to imitating or duplicating what has been exemplified, and there is no innovation in it. The solution to this problem is to apply the STEAM-based Design Thinking learning model to the Ethical Dilemma Story (EDS) project. This study aims to explain the implementation of the STEAM-based Design Thinking learning model in improving the creative thinking skills of class X high school students. The type of research used is Classroom Action Research using a mixed-method concurrent embedded design. The subjects of this study were students of class X MIA 3 SMA 6 Malang. The learning activities are carried out in two cycles, the topic of the virus and the topic of the ecosystem with the stages of 1) Empathize, 2) Define, 3) Ideate, 4) Prototype, and 5) Test. Students create a dilemma story related to the problems raised through articles and videos in the define stage. The ethical dilemma story that has been made will be integrated with a prototype that will be made as a form of a solution to the dilemma stories made by students. Concerning STEAM, in the Virus material, students create projects that help students prevent viruses from entering or maintain student health during a pandemic. In contrast, in the Ecosystem topic, students make projects related to maintaining ecosystems in the human body. The results showed that learning Biology with the STEAM-based Design Thinking learning model improved students’ creative thinking skills and learning outcomes. Design Thinking builds students’ ways of thinking based on new creations because in the process, it will focus on perceptual and practical activities. This study recommends applying the DT learning model by helping students explore planning learning activities, carrying out collaborative projects, and ultimately producing a product to improve their learning outcomes and creative thinking skills.