Academic literature on the topic 'Critical thinking Study and teaching (Primary) Activity programs'

Critical thinking is an important life skill that needs to be nurtured in young minds during the primary education years. This study explored pre-service teachers’ perception of barriers to their efforts in promoting critical thinking skills in classrooms, and further explored possible solutions to overcome these perceived barriers. The study used an exploratory mixed-method research design. Data were collected through an online survey and subsequently a focus group discussion to explore further the results of the quantitative data. Twenty-two pre-service teachers responded to the online survey, and subsequently seven pre-service teachers were selected for the focus group discussion. Issues related to teacher preparedness to assess pupils’ critical thinking skills, inadequate background knowledge on critical thinking, and lack of appropriate resources emerged as barriers to promoting the development of critical thinking skills in classrooms. The study suggests changes in teaching methods courses offered in teacher preparatory programs and changing perceptions toward critical thinking skills as possible measures to promote the development of critical thinking skills in the classroom.

Critical thinking is one of the main skills that students must mastered in order to respond the challenges of globalization and the demands of skilled labor in this disruption era. Various learning models, methods and strategies are developed to meet these objectives. One of the way is the implementation of teaching materials in the form of Independent Learning Activity Unit (UKBM) in learning to foster students' critical thinking skills. The focus of this study is to describe students' responses to the implementation of UKBM in social science programs based on discovery learning to foster students' critical thinking skills. This study used an explanatory mix method research design with a percentage technique. Data were collected through questionnaires, observations and interviews. Data analysis was carried out in four stages; collection, reduction, presentation and drawing conclusions. This study found several things: 1) UKBM in social science programs are effectively foster critical thinking skills; 2) the most prominent assessment is the aspect of student interest in an attractive UKBM design; 3) the assessment is less prominent in the aspect of discovery learning approach in learning because it requires a long time and seriousness of teachers and students. This paper recommends the implementation of other learning models at UKBM to foster critical thinking skills.

The article describes the dominant tendencies of modern language education and substantiates the relevance of the text-centric study of the Ukrainian language. In the system of educational institutions, the emphasis is placed on learning the knowledge of the theory of language and is directed to the practical ability to use them. The teaching of the Ukrainian language is currently considered in the area of the formation of the communicative competence of the linguistic personality, its ability to actively produce and reproductive speech activity in oral and written form, in different situations and spheres of communication. The purpose of the paper is to determine the advantages, value, and significance of the text-centric study of the Ukrainian language to characterize the essence of the methodology of forming the linguistic personality on a textual basis, to develop and experimentally verify the methodical system of development of communicative skills using the technology of the development of critical thinking. Methods of research: theoretical ‒ analysis and synthesis of scientific sources, analysis of current programs, textbooks, manuals; empirical ‒ observation of the educational process; interviews with teachers and students, professors and students, questionnaires; deduction, induction; pedagogical experiment; statistical ‒ quantitative and qualitative analysis of the obtained results. The leading role in the system of training linguistic personality belongs to the communicative and cognitive methodology of teaching the Ukrainian language. Critical thinking as a kind of intellectual activity of a person is characterized by a high level of perception, comprehension, and analysis of the text in order to create his own statement. Text-centric study of the Ukrainian language appears as an integral methodical system that forms the skills of working with information (text) in the process of reproductive and productive speech activity. The application of the technology of critical thinking to the practice of language learning contributes to the formation of communicative competence.
 Keywords: language personality, cognitive technique, communicative technique, technology of Ukrainian language teaching, text-centric approach, text, discourse, technology of critical thinking.

Abstract
 The aspiration of Malaysian education system as mentioned in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 is to produce students who are highly critical and creative. Since teaching for higher order thinking was made explicit since 1989, a systematic evaluation of the adequacy and pitfalls of teaching for thinking programs was not done extensively. If examination result is the yard stick to measure the impact of teaching for thinking, then it can be concluded that 2016 UPSR result painted a dismal picture of failure in teaching for thinking. Studies showed that there is a positive correlation between language teacher used to communicate in the classroom and the development of thinking dispositions among students. Using the framework of language of thinking put forward by Costa and Marzano (2001), this study was conducted to explore language of thinking used by teachers during teaching and learning sessions in several primary school classrooms. This preliminary study attempted to gain in-depth understanding of the phenomenon in the actual setting so that the insight can illustrate a wider picture of the issue. This exploratory case study employed structured observations to collect data in the classroom of nine primary school teachers. The data was analysed based on theoretical proposition by Costa and Marzano. Findings revealed that teachers needed to improve their language of thinking. 
 
 Keywords: Thinking skills, language of thinking, teaching for thinking, higher order thinking.
 
 Abstrak
 Aspirasi pendidikan Malaysia sebagaimana yang disebut dalam Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia 2013-2025 adalah untuk melahirkan pelajar yang berupaya berfikir secara kritis dan kreatif. Semenjak kemahiran berfikir pada aras tinggi disebut secara eksplisit dalam kurikulum sekolah menengah dan rendah dari tahun 1989 lagi, satu penilaian yang sistematik terhadap kejayaan dan kelemahan pengajaran untuk kemahiran berfikir tidak dibuat secara meluas dan menyeluruh. Jika keputusan peperiksaan dijadikan kayu ukur untuk mengukur keberkesanan pengajaran untuk berfikir, keputusan peperiksaan UPSR 2016 melukis gambaran kegagalan projek mengajar untuk kemahiran berfikir aras tinggi yang menyedihkan. Kajian menunjukkan ada perkaitan positif antara Bahasa yang digunakan oleh guru ketika berkomunikasi dalam bilik darjah dengan perkembangan disposisi berfikir dikalangan pelajar. Disposisi berfikir pula berkait langsung dengan tabiat berfikir dan kemahiran berfikir aras tinggi. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk meneroka Bahasa berfikir yang digunakan oleh guru dalam proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran di sekolah rendah. Bahasa berfikir yang diterangkan oleh Costa dan Marzano (2001) digunakan sebagai kerangka teori kajian ini. Kajian ini cuba untuk meneroka amalan berbahasa guru untuk memahami fenomena ini dalam situasi sebenar supaya hasilnya dapat memberi gambaran luas terhadap isu ini. Kajian kes eksplorasi ini menggunakan pemerhatian secara berstruktur untuk mengumpul data. Sembilan orang guru sekolah rendah terlibat dalam kajian ini. Data telah dianalisis menggunakan toeri Bahasa berfikir Costa dan Marzano. Dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan guru perlu menambahbaik Bahasa berfikir yang mereka gunakan semasa berkomunikasi dalam bilik darjah supaya aspirasi melahirkan pelajar berkemahiran berfikir aras tinggi dapat dicapai. 
 
 Kata Kunci: Kemahiran berfikir, bahasa berfikir, mengajar untuk berfikir, berfikir aras tinggi.

This study examines teaching strategies of Mexican teachers by gender, grade level, and self-concept as an instructor. A conventional representative sample of 573 teachers from diverse school settings in the state of Yucatan in Mexico responded to a paper and pencil questionnaire. Results indicated, in general, that teachers prioritize classroom management and independent learning over strategies emphasized by policies and training programs in the country, such as cooperative learning, differentiation, or promoting critical thinking. Statistical analyses showed some differences in this diverse group of teachers by gender, grade level, and self-concept. Female teachers promote more independent activities that males, and as expected, primary school teachers are more concerned with differentiation. Teachers with high self-concept tended to do more class management activities and promote more independent learning and critical thinking than low self-concept teachers. Findings indicate the need to ask Mexican teachers about what they do in their classrooms and how they feel about their teaching duties. In addition, the origins and the nature of teacher self-concept should be further investigated.

Among the skills that modern people need for self-realization there are creativity, critical thinking, communication with people, working with information, computer literacy, striving for self-improvement, flexibility, openness to innovations. To navigate the turbulent flow of information, each individual needs developed critical thinking. Critical thinking skills should be developed and refined right from the school desk, from the early school age. Children are open to innovations. These qualities should be used to their maximum potential in the educational process. The article presents separate methods for the development of critical thinking, which a primary school teacher can use in teaching process of the subject "I am in the World". Specific examples of using the Aquarium methods are presented: "Fish bone", "Six hats" and others at the lessons in the 3rd form of comprehensive schools. The emphasis is made on the importance of students’ critical thinking, which promotes orientation towards success in activity, self-realization and self-development. Mastering the strategies of critical thinking development is considered as an important task of educational systems in many countries of the world, including Ukraine. Critical thinking is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Facilitating its development in students requires a teacher of high professionalism. In this situation attention should be paid to the systematic and thorough study of the theory and methodology of teaching, the experience of using various strategies of other teachers, methodologists, accumulation of their own experience. There are a lot of methods for the development of critical thinking. Each of them has its own specifics, structure, stages (although it is not forbidden to make certain adjustments, taking into account the age of pupils, the studied subject). Proper use of such methods in the course "I am in the World”, which is interdisciplinary and shapes the outlook of students, will help the primary school teacher to teach children to think independently, to see and evaluate the problem, to look for several possible solutions, to make decisions and to interact effectively with others.

The consequences of globalization should be anticipated and adjusted in education, especially the teaching and learning process. The revolution industry of 4.0 has caused some disruption in various aspects including education that is intended for the purpose of learning and innovation skills. The objective of this study is to improve the quality of learning by applying the literacy movement, character values as a provision for life and career skills using the PBL method in tourism vocational education. By applying the descriptive qualitative research method, the data, both primary and secondary, were collected through participant observation in three classes of different study programs in the Tourism Department, Bali State Polytechnic, interview, and literature study. The study found, so far, the implementation of PBL model in the classrooms has been effective. The essence of PBL is regarded as problem-solving activities, which is in the hierarchy of high order thinking skills (HOTS). As a result, the students while giving solutions to problems in various tourism workforce are able to master critical thinking skills, collaboration in teams/social interactions, and soft skills.

Literacy is a crucial aspect in English education that concerns the ability to read, write, then integrate and link what they have learned to daily life. However, several researchers found that there was a lack of literacy activity in Indonesia. Literacy pedagogy was rarely seen in campus life in which it was mostly applied at primary and secondary school levels. Therefore, this study explored the implementation process of critical literacy approach in learning English for EFL college students. An action research methodology was applied in this study involving six EFL college students. The study investigated the benefits and challenges of this teaching approach. The findings indicated that critical literacy approach could improve college students’ English proficiency and multiple skills, such as leadership, presentation, collaboration, self-contribution, respect, critical thinking, and expansion of multiple viewpoints through the discussion section. Improving English proficiency of college students and offering recommendations to EFL teachers for applying critical literacy approach in EFL class come as the expectation of the study.

Creating mathematics tasks provide opportunities for students to develop their thinking, reasoning, communication, and creativity. This paper presents a study on teaching pre-service teachers to create realistic mathematics tasks in real contexts and amending them through an iterative process of analysis and refinement. The study was undertaken with pre-service teachers from two university training courses in Spain, undergraduate students from a primary teacher training course, and graduate students from an educational Master’s course. The students worked in groups to collaborate in the creation of the requested tasks and improvement of them based on critical thinking and creativity. The tasks were not only evaluated concerning their level of realism, but also regarding their level of authenticity, the cognitive domains involved, and their openness characteristic. These are the key characteristics related to environmental and sustainability aspects. The outcomes confirmed that the creation of realistic mathematics tasks was a challenge for future primary teachers; however, they were able to create tasks with high levels of cognitive domain, authenticity, and openness. This evidences, on the one hand, the difficulty that future teachers have in understanding the realism of a mathematics task, and, on the other, the possibilities offered by the task’s creation and the revision activity, which has educational implications and opens paths for future research.

The use of primary research in the classroom enhances the critical thinking abilities of students. The present article describes a strategy for using the American Physiological Society classic paper “Enzyme activity and fiber composition in skeletal muscle of untrained and trained men” by Dr. Philip D. Gollnick and colleagues to enhance the students’ ability to understand research, increase their knowledge of the adaptations to exercise, and learn computer skills in data analysis and presentation. By having students read, study, prepare graphs, and discuss the data from a classic paper, they gain an improved understanding of the factors that influence aerobic exercise ability. This study is especially useful for illuminating the exercise-specific differences in bioenergetic enzymes, muscle fiber type, and fitness characteristics that exist between untrained and trained individuals.

This study examines the use of aesthetics in the art education curriculum as a strategy for building oral language skills and critical thinking skills. In this study reproduced artworks were used to stimulate discussion; students learned to scan paintings using a technique called aesthetic scanning during which they learn how to look at a painting orally through guided questioning by the classroom teacher. It was concluded that providing oral language opportunities through the implementation of the aesthetic scanning program was an effective way to promote oral language skills and critical thinking skills in the kindergarten classroom. Arts, as a core subject can be taught through Disciplined Based Art Education (DBAE). With DBAE all students are given the oppportunity to actively engage in oral language activites as they aesthetically view works of art.

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2009.<br>ENGLISH SUMMARY: In this research project the profile and academic literacy proficiency of a group of First-Generation entrants at the University of Namibia were explored in order to obtain insight into the development of their critical literacy proficiency during the course of 2008. The project was undertaken against the backdrop of a Higher Education sector in Namibia that is facing an increasing influx of first-year students – often students who are the first in their families to pioneer the alien territory of tertiary studies. Such students predominantly come from marginalised and poorly resourced educational environments far from the capital of Namibia. These English second language First-Generation students consequently enter Higher Education with insufficient levels of academic literacy proficiency in English, the medium of instruction in tertiary institutions in Namibia. An important aspect of such under-preparedness is their academic literacy which is often still regarded only as knowing how to speak and act within a particular discourse, and the reading and writing that occurs within the discipline as the only skills through which to facilitate learning in the mainstream; this, however, is not enough to assist them in problem-solving and high levels of critical thinking. In response, the University of Namibia has implemented academic support programmes to address the needs of students who enter university with poor school results. One such support programme is the ULEG course for those students who qualified for admission to the university but whose school-end marks for English were a D-symbol. Survey results showed that the majority of the students in the ULEG course in 2008 were First-Generation entrants into Higher Education. It was thus decided to conduct this project with one class group of ULEG students. Only data collected from the FG entrants were employed in this case study. This qualitative, interpretive inquiry was characterised by multiple data collection methods. Qualitative data concerning the perceptions of the participants were generated via semi-structured interviews, observation and content analysis. In addition, quantitative data were collected and this further contributed to the triangulation of rich, in-depth data. An awareness-raising programme about the use of metaphoric language in order to draw appropriate inferences was designed and implemented, the rationale being to enhance the participants‟ critical thinking proficiency. As source material short stories, novels, a play and poetry by African authors written in English were employed. To establish the value of such a programme a mixed methods research methodology was employed where qualitative and quantitative data were collected concurrently. The results of this case study question prevailing notions about under-prepared students as well as the mainstreaming of students, as all of the participants in the project attested to the significant challenges that entry into the academic community posed for them. The findings of this project, while specific to the context in which it was undertaken, contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field of academic development within Higher Education and the role of critical literacy in student learning.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsprojek ondersoek die profiel en die vlakke van akademiese geletterdheid van „n groep Eerste-Generasie eerstejaar studente aan die Universiteit van Namibiȅ om insig te bekom oor die ontwikkeling van hulle vlakke van kritiese geletterdheid gedurende 2008. Die projek is onderneem teen die agtergrond van „n Hoër Onderwys sektor in Namibiȅ met „n toenemende invloei van eerstejaar studente. Hierdie studente is dikwels ook die eerstes in hul families wat die onbekende wêreld van tersiëre studie betree. Hierdie Namibiese studente kom meerendeels van gemarginaliseerde en swak-toegerusde onderwys-omgewings ver vanaf die hoofstad, en die enigste universiteit in Namibiȅ. Hierdie Engels tweede taal Eerste-Generasie studente betree gevolglik Hoër Onderwys met onvoldoende vlakke van akademiese geletterdheid in Engels, die medium van onderrig in Namibiȅ. „n Belangrike aspek van sulke akademiese onvoorbereidheid is die studente se akademiese geletterdheid wat dikwels steeds beskou word as slegs die vermoë om korrek te praat en korrek op te tree in „n spesifieke diskoers, sowel as om te kan lees en skryf na gelang van die vereistes van verskillende hoofstroom akademiese dissiplines. So „n vaardigheidsbenadering is egter nie genoeg om studente te help met problem-oplossing and gevorderde vlakke van kritiese denke nie. Die Universiteit van Namibia het as teenvoeter teen die akademiese onvoorbereidheid van studente akademiese ondersteunigsprogramme geimplementeer. Een so „n program is die ULEG-kursus vir studente wat kwalifiseer vir toelating aan die universiteit maar met slegs „n D-simbool in Engels. „n Vraelys het getoon dat die meeste van die studente in die ULEG-kursus in 2008 Eerste-Generasie studente was. Daarom is besluit om hierdie projek met „n klasgroep ULEG studente te onderneem. Slegs data van die Eerste-Generasie eerstejaar studente in die klas is gebruik vir die doeleindes van hierdie navorsingprojek. In hierdie gevalle-studie is die hoofsaaklik beskrywende ondersoek gekarateriseer deur meervoudige data-versamelingstegnieke en -instrumente. Kwalitatiewe data vi aangaande die persepsies van die studente in die projek is versamel deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde gesprekke, observasies en die interpretasie van geskrewe en mondelinge bydraes van studente. Kwantitatiewe data is versamel en ge-analiseer om by te dra tot die triangulasie van ryk en gedetaileerde bevindings. „n Program om studente bekend te stel aan die gebruik van metaforiese taalgebruik om meer effektiewe gevolgtrekkings te kan maak is ontwerp en geimplementeer. Die beweegrede was om die studente se vlakke van kritiese denke te bevorder. As material vir die program is kortverhale, romans, „n drama en gedigte geskryf in Engels deur skrywers uit Afrika gebruik. Om die effektiwiteit van so „n program te evaluaeer is gebruik gemaak van „n gemengde navorsingmetodiek waar kwalititatiewe tegnieke en kwantitatiewe instrumente gelyktydig en aanvullende gebruik is. Die bevindinge van die projek bevraagteken die heersende opvattings in verband met swak-voorbereide studente sowel as hoofstroom-onderrig, aangesien al die studente in hierdie projek bewys gelewer het van die aansienlike persoonlike probleme wat toegang tot die akademie vir hulle ingehou het. Alhoewel die bevindinge spesifiek is aan die konteks van die projek, dra dit by tot die groeiende korpus van kennis in die veld van akademiese ontwikkeling in Hoër Onderwys, sowel as die rol van kritiese geletterdheid in akademiese studies.