THE ROLE OF STEM EDUCATION IN DEVELOPING 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

The rapid development of 21st-century skills demands a transformation in science education, particularly in physics learning at the senior high school level. However, many studies report that physics learning in Indonesia is still dominated by teacher-centered approaches, resulting in suboptimal development of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. This indicates a research gap in synthesizing how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education contributes to the development of 21st-century skills within physics learning contexts. Therefore, this study aims to analyze and synthesize the role of STEM education in enhancing 21st-century skills in senior high school physics learning. This research employed a qualitative descriptive approach using a literature review method. The data source consisted of 15 national journal articles published within the last five years, selected through purposive sampling based on relevance to STEM education, physics learning, and 21st-century skills. Data were analyzed using content analysis and thematic synthesis techniques to identify patterns and relationships among variables. The findings indicate that STEM education consistently contributes to improving students’ critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS). Furthermore, the integration of STEM with Project-Based Learning (PjBL), Problem-Based Learning (PBL), and digital learning media significantly enhances scientific literacy and digital literacy. The study concludes that STEM education plays a crucial role in fostering 21st-century skills holistically in physics learning, making it highly relevant for implementation in senior high school education