Unlocking Critical Thinking: The LCI Learning Model for Pre-Service Elementary School Teacher

This study explores the effectiveness of the Learning Cycle-Inquiry (LCI) model in enhancing critical thinking skills among pre-service elementary school teachers in remote areas of Malang, Indonesia. The development of critical thinking skills is fundamental for educational success and effective problem-solving in real-world scenarios. Despite its recognized importance, the cultivation of these skills
remains insufficiently addressed in Indonesia's educational practices, especially among pre-service teachers destined for elementary education in remote locales. To address this deficiency, a quasiexperimental research design was implemented, involving 82 preservice teacher students distributed across four classes. These classes
were systematically assigned to either the LCI model, the learning cycle, inquiry-based methods, or conventional teaching strategies. The effectiveness of these methods was measured using ANCOVA and LSD statistical analyses. The findings revealed that the LCI model significantly improved critical thinking skills (p < 0.001),
outperforming other educational approaches, with a corrected mean value of 84.39. These results underscore the potential of the LCI model to substantially boost critical thinking capabilities and suggest its wider adoption could enhance educational outcomes in similar settings.