Schools should focus on creating a positive school climate

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 15 views

The Role of School Climate for Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) on Student Reading Literacy in Indonesia

Introduction

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) are essential for students to develop in order to excel in reading literacy and other academic areas. HOTS include high-level thinking skills such as analysis, evaluation, and creation. On the other hand, the school climate describes the quality and character of life in schools and relationships between school members, including students, teachers, and staff. This study aims to examine the influence of school climate on high-level thinking skills in the context of student reading literacy in Indonesia.

Background

In Indonesia, education is a crucial aspect of the country's development. The government has implemented various programs to improve the quality of education, including the development of HOTS among students. However, the effectiveness of these programs depends on various factors, including the school climate. A positive school climate can foster a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages students to develop their HOTS. Conversely, a negative school climate can hinder the development of HOTS and lead to poor academic performance.

Methodology

This study used PISA 2018 secondary data and involved 12,098 15-year-old students who were studying in junior high school and upper school. The method used is quantitative, with the analysis carried out through multiple linear regression tests. The results of the analysis show that overall, the school climate does not have a significant role in student high-level thinking skills. However, there is one dimension of the school climate that shows attractive results, namely the enthusiasm of the teacher, which turns out to have a negative influence of 0.1% on high-level thinking skills.

Additional Analysis and Explanation

From the results of this study, it appears that although the school climate as a whole does not play a significant role in improving the Skills of HOTS, a particular dimension - as the teacher's enthusiasm - actually shows negative influence. This may be caused by several factors. For example, the enthusiasm of teachers who are not balanced with an effective teaching approach or a supporting learning environment can have a less positive impact on students.

The Importance of School Climate

Supporting quality reading literacy requires more than just enthusiasm. Innovative teaching strategies, in-depth discussion methods, and collaborative approaches are very important to create an environment that can stimulate students' critical thoughts and creativity. In this context, a healthy and supportive school climate is very important in shaping students' attitudes and motivation towards learning.

Social Interaction and HOTS

Another factor that needs to be considered is how social interaction in schools, including support between peers and constructive relationships between students and teachers, can affect the development of high-level thinking skills. Students who feel are supported and actively involved in learning tend to be better able to apply HOTS in reading literacy activities.

Conclusion

Overall, the results of this study show the importance of attention to various school climate dimensions and effective teaching approaches to optimize the development of HOTS in students in Indonesia. To improve high-level thinking skills among students, it is essential for the school to not only focus on creating a positive school climate but also ensuring that teaching and learning are carried out in an interesting and challenging way. This will help students develop their analytical, evaluative, and creative abilities, which are important components in reading and learning literacy as a whole.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Schools should focus on creating a positive school climate that fosters a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages students to develop their HOTS.
Teachers should use innovative teaching strategies that stimulate students' critical thoughts and creativity.
Schools should ensure that teaching and learning are carried out in an interesting and challenging way to help students develop their analytical, evaluative, and creative abilities.
Social interaction in schools should be encouraged to support students' development of high-level thinking skills.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations. Firstly, the study used PISA 2018 secondary data, which may not be representative of the current situation in Indonesia. Secondly, the study only focused on the influence of school climate on HOTS, and did not consider other factors that may affect HOTS, such as family background and socio-economic status.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on exploring the relationship between school climate and HOTS in more depth. This can be done by conducting a qualitative study that examines the experiences of students and teachers in schools with different school climates. Additionally, future research should consider other factors that may affect HOTS, such as family background and socio-economic status.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of school climate in the development of HOTS among students in Indonesia. While the study found that the school climate as a whole does not have a significant role in student high-level thinking skills, a particular dimension - as the teacher's enthusiasm - actually shows negative influence. Therefore, schools should focus on creating a positive school climate that fosters a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages students to develop their HOTS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Role of School Climate in Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) on Student Reading Literacy in Indonesia

Q: What is Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)?

A: Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) refer to high-level thinking skills that include analysis, evaluation, and creation. These skills are essential for students to develop in order to excel in reading literacy and other academic areas.

Q: What is the school climate?

A: The school climate describes the quality and character of life in schools and relationships between school members, including students, teachers, and staff. A positive school climate can foster a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages students to develop their HOTS.

Q: What is the relationship between school climate and HOTS?

A: The study found that the school climate as a whole does not have a significant role in student high-level thinking skills. However, a particular dimension - as the teacher's enthusiasm - actually shows negative influence on HOTS.

Q: Why is teacher enthusiasm important in the school climate?

A: Teacher enthusiasm is important because it can stimulate students' critical thoughts and creativity. However, if teacher enthusiasm is not balanced with an effective teaching approach or a supporting learning environment, it can have a less positive impact on students.

Q: What are some effective teaching strategies that can help students develop HOTS?

A: Some effective teaching strategies that can help students develop HOTS include:

Innovative teaching methods
In-depth discussion methods
Collaborative approaches
Project-based learning
Critical thinking exercises

Q: How can schools create a positive school climate that fosters HOTS?

A: Schools can create a positive school climate that fosters HOTS by:

Fostering a supportive and inclusive environment
Encouraging social interaction among students and teachers
Providing opportunities for students to develop their critical thinking and creativity skills
Encouraging teachers to use innovative teaching strategies
Providing resources and support for teachers to develop their skills

Q: What are some limitations of the study?

A: The study has several limitations, including:

The study used PISA 2018 secondary data, which may not be representative of the current situation in Indonesia
The study only focused on the influence of school climate on HOTS, and did not consider other factors that may affect HOTS, such as family background and socio-economic status

Q: What are some future research directions?

A: Future research should focus on exploring the relationship between school climate and HOTS in more depth. This can be done by conducting a qualitative study that examines the experiences of students and teachers in schools with different school climates. Additionally, future research should consider other factors that may affect HOTS, such as family background and socio-economic status.

Q: What are some implications of the study for education policy and practice?

A: The study has several implications for education policy and practice, including:

The need for schools to create a positive school climate that fosters HOTS
The importance of teacher enthusiasm and effective teaching strategies in developing HOTS
The need for education policymakers to consider the role of school climate in developing HOTS when making policy decisions

Q: What are some recommendations for schools and teachers?

A: Some recommendations for schools and teachers include:

Fostering a positive school climate that encourages students to develop their HOTS
Using innovative teaching strategies to stimulate students' critical thoughts and creativity
Providing opportunities for students to develop their critical thinking and creativity skills
Encouraging social interaction among students and teachers
Providing resources and support for teachers to develop their skills