THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT-BASED LEARNING MODELS TO IMPROVE STUDENTS' CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND CREATIVITY IN CHEMISTRY SUBJECTS IN HIGH SCHOOL

21st-century education demands a learning model that emphasizes not onlytheoretical delivery but also the development of students' critical thinking,communication, creativity, and collaboration skills. Project-Based Learning (PjBL) isa learning model that engages students in authentic projects relevant to real-lifesituations, enabling them to understand abstract concepts in Chemistry throughhands-on experience. The application of PjBL to Chemistry is highly appropriate dueto the nature of the material, which requires observation, experimentation, andscientific evidence. Several studies have shown that PjBL can improve students'learning motivation, learning outcomes, and higher-order thinking skills in scienceand Chemistry learning compared to conventional methods (Thomas, 2000), (Krajcik& Blumenfeld, 2006), (Pratiwi & Ikhsan, 2024). Furthermore, PjBL supports theimplementation of the Independent Curriculum, which emphasizes contextual,collaborative, and experience-based learning (Ministry of Education and Culture,2021). This research used a systematic literature review of several scientific articlesdiscussing the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) in chemistrylearning in high school. The study results indicate that Project-Based Learning (PjBL)effectively increases students' understanding of chemical concepts by 30–35% andenhances students' creativity through project activities, experiments, and the creationof simple chemical products. Other findings reveal that Project-Based Learning (PjBL)helps students connect theory to everyday life phenomena and makes learning moremeaningful and applicable. However, several obstacles to its implementation, such aslimited facilities and learning time, remain. Overall, Project-Based Learning (PjBL) isa learning model with the potential for wider application in chemistry learningbecause it improves learning quality and is relevant to the demands of 21st-centuryeducation. Therefore, the application of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) in chemistrylearning not only improves cognitive achievement but also fosters active, independent,and innovative student character. This article discusses the concept, implementationsteps, benefits, and research findings related to the effectiveness of Project-Based