THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL THINKING FOR HIGHER STUDENTS: NOTES OF THE ENGLISH TEACHER

Author(s):  
I. B. Ushakova

The paper is devoted to critical thinking development techniques in the process of teaching and learning English at the University. A wide range of “critical thinking” definitions and interpretations was studied to single out those ideas that help to form the basis for choosing particular critical thinking development techniques. In this paper we focus on our didactic experience in developing critical thinking skills of law students.

2021 ◽  
pp. 378-387
Author(s):  
Muhammad Akram ◽  
Anser Mahmood

A great deal of research is done on teacher training and teacher education worldwide, but a few studies appeared on teacher’s professional discerning and particularly on teachers’ critical thinking skills. Critical thinking, with regard to EFL teachers, has not been taken into consideration early on. This study explores the relationship between EFL teacher’s professional discerning and their critical thinking in Pakistani context. A quantitative paradigm has been adopted to find out if there is any relationship between EFL teachers’ professional discerning and their critical thinking. The participants consisted of 93 EFL teachers teaching English at the university level in Pakistan. The researcher utilized a professional discerning (identity) research tool taken from Sheybani and Miri (2019) and a derived Critical Thinking Inventory (DCT) designed by the researcher to collect data. To analyze the relationship between EFL teachers’s professional discerning and their critical thinking ability, the data were analyzed by R (statistical program). The results of correlation analysis unfolded that the sub-constructs of professional discerning questionnaire tools are predicted by critical thinking. A highly positive and statistically significant correlation was observed in the analysis. The study highlights the significance and important role of critical thinking in shaping EFL teachers’ professional discerning, particularly in their teaching context. The study proves the inventive conduct of EFL teachers in the present era of knowledge and learning. The study will positively contribute to language teaching and learning, and it would open up new vistas for EFL teachers, syllabus designers, and academia.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-55
Author(s):  
Erst Carmichael ◽  
◽  
Helen Farrell ◽  

A graduate's ability to be a critical thinker is expected by many employers; therefore development of students’ critical-thinking skills in higher education is important. There is also a perception that today’s students are technologically "savvy", and appreciate the inclusion of a technological approach to learning. However, the complexity of the concept of critical thinking and the assumptions about students’ technological skills are debatable issues that require clarification and evidence-based research in terms of teaching and learning. This paper reports on a case study of an online Blackboard site at the University of Western Sydney, where analysis of patterns of usage of the online site and qualitative analysis of student feedback provide evidence to support its effectiveness for encouraging students' critical thinking. There is potential to expand this into a more widely usable teaching and learning resource in the future, and for further research to explore the benefits for student learning.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Akram ◽  
Anser Mahmood

A great deal of research is done on teacher training and teacher education worldwide, but a few studies appeared on teacher’s professional discerning and particularly on teachers’ critical thinking skills. Critical thinking, with regard to EFL teachers, has not been taken into consideration early on. This study explores the relationship between EFL teacher’s professional discerning and their critical thinking in Pakistani context. A quantitative paradigm has been adopted to find out if there is any relationship between EFL teachers’ professional discerning and their critical thinking. The participants consisted of 93 EFL teachers teaching English at the university level in Pakistan. The researcher utilized a professional discerning (identity) research tool taken from Sheybani and Miri (2019) and a derived Critical Thinking Inventory (DCT) designed by the researcher to collect data. To analyze the relationship between EFL teachers’s professional discerning and their critical thinking ability, the data were analyzed by R (statistical program). The results of correlation analysis unfolded that the sub-constructs of professional discerning questionnaire tools are predicted by critical thinking. A highly positive and statistically significant correlation was observed in the analysis. The study highlights the significance and important role of critical thinking in shaping EFL teachers’ professional discerning, particularly in their teaching context. The study proves the inventive conduct of EFL teachers in the present era of knowledge and learning. The study will positively contribute to language teaching and learning, and it would open up new vistas for EFL teachers, syllabus designers, and academia.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Wender ◽  
Valerie J. D’Erman

ABSTRACT Teaching and learning in higher education is occurring, unavoidably, within the broader civic context of today’s extraordinarily polarizing political times. We seek to help students situate themselves with respect to and, above all, thoughtfully assess others’ as well as their own perspectives on issues of profound contention, without contributing to exacerbated polarization ourselves. Specifically, we offer students in our first-year exploratory political science course a vital tool—critical rigor—for navigating but not being inundated by the storm. This article discusses our experiences in teaching the course titled, “The Worlds of Politics,” as we attempt to help students deeply engage in cognitive processes of critical thinking and analysis, without undue infringement from their own—and least of all our own—personal political biases. Our focal learning objective is the cultivation of critical-thinking skills that promote students’ drawing of distinctions between advocacy and analysis, as well as their discerning civic engagement.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anisah Dickson ◽  
Laura B. Perry ◽  
Susan Ledger

International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes are growing rapidly worldwide, driven in part by their global reputation and concept-driven, inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning. This thematic review of a range of literature sources examines the impact of IB programmes on teaching and learning, highlighting trends, challenges, and benefits. Findings of the review revealed that most of the studies, both qualitative and quantitative, examined stakeholders’ perspectives or self-reported experiences of IB programmes; a very small number used research designs that control for confounding factors or allow causal inferences to be drawn. A wide range of stakeholders report that IB programmes develop research and critical thinking skills, intercultural appreciation and global awareness, as well as cultivate collaborative working cultures and creative pedagogical practices among teachers. Challenges include extra demands on teachers for lesson planning and assessment, additional stress for teachers and students, and competing demands and expectations with national requirements. Recommendations are provided which may guide future research endeavours.


Author(s):  
Kateryna Ivlieva ◽  
Olga Rejda ◽  
Dina Gulieva

The article attempts to reveal the essence of the concept«critical thinking» and to consider the development of this kindof thinking in higher school students at foreign languageclasses. It is noted that the ability to acquire skills independentlyand use them in practical activities, and not only the amount ofacquired knowledge, has an essential role to play in the adaptationof a graduate to the realities of modern society. Therefore, thecritical thinking technology applying, as well as the traditionalforms of activity in higher education in the process of foreignlanguage teaching, is seen as a clear necessity. The articlenotes that the main purpose of critical thinking development ofstudents who do not have the developed skills to think criticallyis to extend the mental competence to solve social, scientific andpractical problems effectively. Students of higher educationalestablishments have a range of considerable knowledge andsufficient social experience. They are able to transform theexisting knowledge and skills into competencies, provided thatthey are highly motivated and there are active cognitive activities.Thus, the task of teaching critical thinking skills is to developthe cognitive activity of students based on logical, research andcritical thinking. On the basis of the analysis of the practicalexperience of a foreign language course teaching in a higherschool, the development opportunities are revealed andstrategies of the critical thinking development of students inforeign language classes are considered (annotation, preview,contextualization, self-questioning, reflexion, evaluative judgment,comparison and contrasting). Certain methods, promoting criticalthinking at different stages of learning have been proposedin the paper (Basket of ideas, concepts; Cluster; Margin notes;Сinquain making; Training brainstorming; Essay writing). It hasbeen concluded that the critical thinking technology applied atforeign language classes at higher schools significantly increasesthe time of language practice for each student, helps to facilitatetheir learning acquisition, addresses a wide range of educationaland developmental tasks. The teacher becomes an organizerof students' independent educational, communicative andcreative activities and has the opportunity to improve the learningprocess, develop students' communicative skills and developtheir personality comprehensively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-44
Author(s):  
Nurul Hidayati ◽  
Elly Yustina ◽  
Sri Hendra Suryani ◽  
Juli Eka Nugraheni

The success of a teaching process cannot be separated from the learning tools used, one of the requirements is that the learning tools must be valid. The success of a teaching process is measured by the extent to which students can master the subject matter presented by the teacher. A learning model is needed that can make it easier to develop critical thinking skills so that a truly valid learning tool is obtained to measure the potential and skills that exist in students. Among the learning models that emphasize the process of seeking and finding is the inquiry model. This study aims to prepare in measuring critical thinking skills of Madrasah Tsanawiyah students. The Learning Toolkit has been validated by 3 experts and will then be averaged to find the final score. The values obtained will be entered into the validation criteria table based on the validation criteria table and the results are that the tools made are very valid and can be used in the teaching and learning process because previously the tools made have been revised several times. Keywords: validity, learning tools, critical thinking skills AbstrakKeberhasilan suatu proses pengajaran tidak terlepas dari perangkat pembelajaran yang digunakan, salah satu persyaratan adalah perangkat pembelajaran harus valid. Keberhasilan suatu proses pengajaran diukur dari sejauh mana siswa dapat menguasai materi pelajaran yang disampaikan guru. Diperlukan suatu model pembelajaran yang dapat memudahkan dalam mengembangkan perangkat keterampilan berpikir kritis sehingga didapatkan suatu perangkat pembelajaran yang benar-benar valid untuk mengukur potensi dan keterampilan yang ada pada diri siswa. Diantara model pembelajaran yang menekankan kepada proses mencari dan menemukan adalah model inkuiri. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempersiapkan dalam mengukur keterampilan berpikir kritis siswa Madrasasah Tsanawiyah. Perangkat Pembelajaran sudah divalidasi oleh 3 orang ahli kemudian akan dirata-ratakan untuk mencari nilai akhir. Nilai yang didapat akan dimasukkan ke dalam tabel kriteria validasi diberdasarkan tabel kriteria validasi dan hasilnya perangkat yang dibuat termasuk sangat valid dan dapat digunakan dalam proses belajar mengajar karena sebelumnya perangkat yang dibuat sudah dilakukan beberapa kali revisi.  Kata kunci: kevalidan, perangkat pembelajaran, keterampilan berpikir kritis


Author(s):  
Mohan Rathakrishnan ◽  
Arumugam Raman

Trello online discussion has become one of the important strategies for the University Utara Malaysia Management Foundation Programme student to teach other students to think critically in conveying their ideas and become more proactive and creative in critical thinking subject. In a heutagogical approach, learners become highly autonomous and self-determined while learning online. They use Trello online discussion tool as self-determination learning. Trello enable the learners to use their capacity and capability with the goal of producing learners. Trello online learning was conducted to examine its effectiveness in enhancing macro critical thinking among active-reflective learning style. The students discuss and write their ideas in Trello. Ideas that are posted in Trello will be displayed in front of the class so that the entire learners in the class could see the given ideas. Paul's model was used to analyze learners' critical thinking in Trello online discussion.


Author(s):  
Paul Kawachi

A multimedia construct for learning based on the Theory of Transactional Distance has been developed consisting of four stages of decreasing transactional distance. This model has been applied in various teaching and learning contexts, on- and off-line, and its validation was investigated. Results confirmed in practice the four distinct sequential stages. Difficulties were discovered in navigating through the collaborative second and third stages, consistent with findings from related studies on acquiring critical thinking skills. Specific areas for attention were identified to promote learning using multimedia.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Irfan Tosuncuoglu

Developing the ability to think critically is vital component of real, meaningful teaching and learning. Critical thinking helps us solve problems, make decisions and reach our goals. Thinking is not a passive but an active process. If students’ critical thinking skills are activated, for example while writing, very successful results can be attained. It can be said that critical thinking can be considered in two respects: to achieve a goal and to make a decision. As for teaching, there is very little evidence that students at universities acquire the skills of critical thinking in their learning and teaching activities. In accordance with its important place of in learning and teaching periods, it has been a concept recently highlighted in the field of EFL, like in many other fields of education such as mathematics, history and geography. The skill of critical thinking plays a great role and it has been accepted as an important step in every area of teaching and learning, particularly nowadays due to developments cognition and intelligence. So, in order to understand the awareness of the students for critical thinking, an experiment was performed in the fall of AY 2017-18, with 79 students in Karabuk University, Turkey. In this study, the significance of critical thinking and result of the experiments were discussed in detail, it also shed light on the students’ perceptions of it.


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