scholarly journals Unusual Word Problems and the Development of Critical Thinking in Early School Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3(61)) ◽  
pp. 43-56
Author(s):  
Barbara Nawolska
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Elementary School Students ◽  
Word Problems ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
School Students ◽  
Early School ◽  
Contradictory Data

Nowadays, it is increasingly difficult for people to make their way in a rapidly changing world. Critical thinkers are able to function well in such a changing environment and their education should begin in early childhood. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the development of critical thinking of third grade elementary school students. Unusual word problems with missing or contradictory data, an ambiguous solution, or with unrealistic content (meaningless in real life) served as a tool for developing this type of thinking. These problems provoked the students to think, to critically analyze both the content and data of word problems. This, in turn, helped the students become more reflective, notice missing or contradictory data, ambiguity of a solution or lack of realism, fill in missing data, correct contradictory information and make unrealistic data realistic, as well as seek all possibilities for a solution. Thus, their critical thinking skills developed.

scholarly journals Application of the Problem Based Learning Model to Improve Critical Thinking Skills for Grade IV Elementary School Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Elyana Rahmawati
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Elementary School Students ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
School Students ◽  
Fourth Grade Students ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
The Subject

<p><em>This study aims to improve critical thinking skills through the application of a Problem Based Learning based. This research is a classroom action research conducted in two cycles with planning, implementation, observation, and reflection stages. Data collection instruments use question instruments, observation sheets, documentation, and field notes. The subject of the study was the fourth grade students of SDN 1 Muryolobo. The results showed an increase in critical thinking skills as indicated by the data in the pre cycle of 42%, in the first cycle increased by 67,23%, and in the second cycle increased by 80,72%. Increasing critical thinking skills also affects the students learning outcomes. This is indicated by the learning outcomes on Indonesian language in pre cycle, cycle I, and cycle II, are 45%, 68%, and 81%. Furthermore, the learning outcomes of IPS in pre cycle, cycle I, and cycle II are 36%, 63%, and 81%.</em></p>

scholarly journals peter pan: el líder y sus seguidores. una experiencia de filosofía con niños

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Esther Charabati
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Peter Pan ◽  
School Students ◽  
Philosophy And Literature ◽  
Reciprocal Influences ◽  
School Issues

Philosophy and literature are linked by strong ties that are evident in both disciplines: there are numerous literary and philosophical works in which reciprocal influences can be traced. This philosophical experience with children started from a classic work, Peter Pan, to motivate elementary school students. The goals were a) to develop critical thinking skills and ethical problematization around school issues; b) to develop analysis, synthesis, inferring, debate, questioning, and creative thinking skills; and c) for students to make connections between their daily experiences and the situations discussed in the story. Peter Pan portrays a popular kind of character of our times: the leader. Peter is smart and friendly, possesses enough courage and charisma to entice lost children, the Red Skins, and Wendy and her siblings. His imagination and passion for adventure make him even more appealing. Peter also embodies flaws commonly seen in numerous leaders: vanity, selfishness, and lack of responsibility. To exert control he relies on the submission of lost children. While both behaviors may seem natural to us in the story, in real life at school we would label them with words like bullying, abuse, aggression, victims... This experience showed that literary works can trigger deep thinking and debate in students that apply to dilemmas in both school and everyday life; it prompted questioning regarding relationships and points of view; it was also possible to appreciate the possibilities that this space opened to encourage imagination. Educators could witness and see evidence of the power of questioning even though only a few of them had learned these skills. Limited background in critical thinking reduces the ability to implement strategies that contribute to the growth of the above mentioned skills.

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