The Impact of the Brainstorming Method on Learning Interest in Christian Religious Education and Character Education among Grade VIII Students at SMP Negeri 4 Tarutung

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of the brainstorming method on students’ learning interest in Christian Religious Education and Character Education (PAK) among Grade VIII students at SMP Negeri 4 Tarutung. Recognizing that many PAK classrooms remain teacher-centred, this research sought to determine whether brainstorming could foster greater engagement, curiosity, and moral reflection. A quantitative quasi-experimental design was employed using a Nonequivalent Control Group Design. Two intact classes were purposively selected: Class VIII-2 (n = 29) as the experimental group and Class VIII-4 (n = 28) as the control group. The experimental class received brainstorming-based instruction emphasizing open idea generation, non-judgmental discussion, and collaborative synthesis linked to biblical and ethical principles, while the control class followed conventional instruction. Learning interest was measured using a validated 17-item Likert questionnaire encompassing four dimensions: enjoyment, attention, attraction to content, and active involvement. Statistical analysis using the independent-samples t-test revealed a significant difference between groups, t₍₅₅₎ = 19.240 > t_table= 2.000 (p < 0.05). The experimental group achieved a high N-Gain of 0.8045, compared to the control’s 0.0279, indicating a strong educational effect. Observations confirmed that brainstorming increased students’ confidence, participation, and ability to connect faith-based lessons to real-life contexts. The findings demonstrate that brainstorming enhances learning interest by fostering psychological safety, collaboration, and relevance. Pedagogically, this method transforms PAK classrooms into dialogical communities where students learn through inquiry and shared reflection. The study recommends broader implementation of brainstorming in Christian education to nurture both intellectual curiosity and spiritual growth.