scholarly journals Critical Thinking as a Dimension of Constructivist Learning in Social Studies Education: A Study of Teachers’ Attitudes in Secondary Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Ali Emad Muhammad
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Social Studies ◽  
Instructional Strategies ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Social Studies Teachers ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Constructive Learning ◽  
Teachers Attitudes ◽  
Self Learning

This study examined social studies teachers’ attitudes towards critical thinking as a dimension of constructive learning. The purpose of this study was indeed to develop a better understanding of the use of instructional approaches by experienced teachers to enhance critical thinking skills and improve student learning of social studies. The study was conducted in the city of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan with 20 experienced social studies teachers in 8 public secondary schools. Qualitative approach was preferred for this study. The interview with each of the 20 teachers was conducted individually and their social studies classes are observed separately. The results of this study revealed that teachers have little knowledge and understanding of instructional strategies that foster critical thinking. The teachers believed that students can benefit from using self-learning, self-assessment, involving in peer learning, meaningful and reasonable response process and express curiosity through questioning how and why. This study also explored some obstacles when teachers practice instructional strategies that enhance critical thinking in learning social studies.

scholarly journals Self-Assessment of Critical Thinking Skills in EFL Writing Courses at the University Level: Reconsideration of the Critical Thinking Construct

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Youssef Nadri ◽  
Adil Azhar
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Formative Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Metacognitive Skills ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Efl Writing

The Critical Thinking (CT) component has by now secured a key place within EFL curriculum aims and objectives. The integration of a CT dimension into the teaching of the writing skill in particular has received considerable attention in research. However, research has also pointed to the failure of assessment practices to evaluate CT development. It is within this context that the present work advocates a standard based approach to the assessment of CT in EFL writing that aligns assessment criteria to the critical abilities articulated in the learning outcomes (i.e., standards). This fosters a conception of CT measures that associates components of CT with higher order writing skills. Accordingly, the first objective of the study is to empirically test the relationship between CT dispositions and metacognitive strategy use in an attempt to establish a model of writing (self-)assessment that combines these two dimensions. As assessment is viewed as a formative evaluation process subservient of learning, the study also targets the students’ self-assessment strategies during the writing process. To this purpose, a questionnaire has been designed, and administered to 100 students at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences in Rabat to tap their perceptions and use of CT skills. The data analysis revealed that critical thinking development and assessment are metacognitive in nature; it follows that metacognitive skills such as planning, self-evaluating and reflecting are to be used as an essential vehicle in the development of Critical Thinking skills. This points to the paramount role of CT-informed formative (self-)assessment practices in benefiting ELT writing learners.

scholarly journals The impact of the interaction between the e-learning environment and the level of self-learning ability on critical thinking and achievement in mathematics among secondary school students

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nourah Marzouq Al Qathami - Ghadir Zein Eddin Flambain
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Learning Ability ◽  
School Students ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Self Learning

The aim of the research is to identify the effect of the interaction between the e-learning environment and the level of self-learning ability on critical thinking and achievement in mathematics among secondary school students. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher relied on the semi-experimental approach, where the research tools were in the measure of self-learning ability, electronic achievement test, After verifying the validity of the research tools and their consistency, they were applied to a sample of (35) female high school students in Taif, They were divided into the first two experimental groups (18) and the second (17) according to the level of self-learning ability (high and low). The first group is taught through a virtual e-learning environment and the other through a personal electronic learning environment. The data were processed using the SPSS statistical program and the research reached a number of results, the most important of which are: There was a statistically significant difference (0.05) among the average scores of the students in the post-test of the achievement test among the first experimental group using the virtual e-learning environment, and the general average (14.28) and the second experimental group using the personal e-learning environment and got a general average (15.39), and shows the difference in favor of the second experimental group. There was also no statistically significant difference (0.05) between the mean scores of the students of the two groups in the post-measurement scores of the Critical Thinking Skills Scale. A statistically significant difference (0.05) was found between the mean scores of the students of the experimental groups in the academic achievement and the critical thinking skills scale due to the main effect of the different level of self-learning ability (high / low) For students with high self-learning ability, There were no statistically significant differences at (0.05) between the mean scores of the students of the two groups due to interaction between the e-learning environment (virtual / personal) and the level of self-learning (high / low) in academic achievement and critical thinking skills. In the light of the results, a number of recommendations and suggestions were presented to enhance the critical thinking skills and the achievement of mathematics in secondary school students and in all educational stages, Including the awareness of teachers and teachers of the importance of using e-learning environments in achieving the desired educational goals and attention to the development of thinking skills in general and critical thinking skills in particular to ensure the efficiency of the process of learning and continuous learning process.

Fostering Critical Thinking Using Instructional Strategies in English Classes

2019 ◽  
pp. 299-316
Author(s):  
Şenol Orakcı ◽  
Mehmet Durnali ◽  
Osman Aktan
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Critical Literacy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
English Classes

The aim of the chapter is to provide both theoretical and practical ideas about critical thinking development within English language teaching contexts. Encouraging language learners to be critical thinkers is important in teaching English as a foreign language. However, achieving the goal remains a challenge. Using various strategies together seem to be effective when properly implemented. Therefore this chapter outlines these strategies which include communicative language tasks, using authentic meaningful texts, using critical literacy, being aware of whole-brain learning, adopting a reflective teaching, enabling students to become autonomous, using explicit instruction, teacher questioning, using active and cooperative learning strategies, using literature in English classes, using creative drama, and adopting self-assessment. Teachers can enable learners to have critical thinking skills and more efficient English lessons by combining these strategies in a new way or by designing critical thinking activities in the classroom.

Accumulation of Content Validation Evidence for the Critical Thinking Self-Assessment Scale

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Girija Gopinathan Nair ◽  
Laurie-Ann M. Hellsten ◽  
Lynnette Leeseberg Stamler
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Assessment Scale ◽  
Monitoring Methods ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Content Relevance

Background/Purpose: Critical thinking skills (CTS) are essential for nurses; assessing students’ acquisition of these skills is a mandate of nursing curricula. This study aimed to develop a self-assessment instrument of critical thinking skills (Critical Thinking Self-Assessment Scale [CTSAS]) for students’ self-monitoring. Methods: An initial pool of 196 items across 6 core cognitive skills and 16 subskills were generated using the American Philosophical Association definition of CTS. Experts’ content review of the items and their ratings provided evidence of content relevance using the item-level content validity index (I-CVI) and Aiken’s content validity coefficient (VIk). Results: 115 items were retained (range of I-CVI values = .70 to .94 and range of VIkvalues = .69–.95; significant atp< .05). Conclusion: The CTSAS is the first CTS instrument designed specifically for self-assessment purposes.

scholarly journals PENERAPAN MODEL INKUIRI SOSIAL UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEMAMPUAN BERPIKIR KRITIS MAHASISWA CALON GURU SD

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-254
Author(s):  
Deasy Rahmawati ◽  
Ike Annita
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Social Studies ◽  
Inquiry Learning ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Learning Model ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Study Program ◽  
Social Inquiry ◽  
The Social

ABSTRACT This aims of this study is to comprehend  the increase in the critical thinking skills of PGSD students through the implementation of social inquiry models in elementary social studies education courses. The population of this study were all 3rd semester students of the PGSD FKIP Unla study program. Sampling was carried out by using saturated sampling technique, where all members of the population were sampled, class A01 as a control class that applied conventional learning and class A02 as an experimental class that was treated with social inquiry learning models. The data in this study were obtained through the results of the pretest and posttest using the critical thinking essay test instrument. The results of this study indicate that there are differences in the increase in the critical thinking skills of PGSD students in the SD social studies course after the social inquiry learning model is applied. Beside that, the critical thinking skills of PGSD students in the Elementary Social Sciences Education course after applying the social inquiry learning model are better than the control class using conventional learning methods.   ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peningkatan kemampuan berpikir kritis mahasiswa PGSD melalui penerapan model inkuiri sosial dalam mata kuliah pendidikan IPS SD.  Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh mahasiswa semester 3 program studi PGSD FKIP Unla. Penarikan sampel dilakukan dengan teknik sampling jenuh, dimana seluruh anggota populasi dijadikan sampel, yaitu kelas A01 dijadikan kelas kontrol yang menerapkan pembelajaran konvensional dan kelas A02 dijadikan kelas eksperimen yang mendapatkan perlakuan model pembelajaran inkuiri sosial. Data yang dalam penelitian ini diperoleh melalui hasil pretes dan postes dengan menggunakan instrumen tes uraian berpikir  kritis. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapat perbedaan peningkatan kemampuan berpikir kritis mahasiswa PGSD pada mata kuliah Pendidikan IPS SD setelah diterapkan model  pembelajaran inkuiri sosial. Selain itu, kemampuan berpikir kritis mahasiswa PGSD pada mata kuliah Pendidikan IPS SD setelah diterapkan model  pembelajaran inkuiri sosial lebih baik daripada kelas kontrol yang menggunakan metode pembelajaran konvensional.

scholarly journals Pre-Service Teachers’ Attitudes towards English Courses and Their Critical Thinking Skills

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Muzaffer Barın
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
English Classes ◽  
Teachers Attitudes ◽  
Thinking Disposition ◽  
The Relationship

The aim of the current research is to reveal the relationship between pre-service teachers’ attitudes towardscompulsory English courses and their critical thinking skills. The study also investigates the effect of the participants’age, gender and department on their attitudes towards compulsory English courses and their critical thinking skills.California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) and Attitude Scale towards English Classes (ASTEC)were used as data collection instruments. 159 pre-service teachers from different departments of a public university’sfaculty of education. The results showed that there is no significant relationship between the participants’ age, genderand department and their CCTDI and ASTEC scores. According to the correlational analyses, it is found that there isno correlation between CCTDI and ASTEC scores of the participants. The results have been discussed under the lightof relevant literature and implications are presented for further research and pedagogy.

Digital Storytelling to Enhance Social Studies Content Knowledge, Explore Multiple Perspectives, and Advocate for Social Justice

2021 ◽  
pp. 235-256
Author(s):  
Lindsay Yearta ◽  
Katie Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Social Studies ◽  
Digital Storytelling ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Counter Narratives ◽  
Historical Accounts

In this chapter, the authors discuss how digital storytelling expands traditional storytelling options to serve as an integrative approach to (1) deepen student understanding of social studies content, (2) learn history through multiple perspectives, and (3) seek social justice through civics engagement. Most stories told about our history tend to focus on the dominant narrative which portrays an inaccurate depiction of events and individuals. When students move beyond the “single story” of the dominant narrative to explore multiple perspectives, voices, and historical accounts through counter narratives, they develop essential critical thinking skills to help them not only deepen their understanding of content in social studies but to encourage them to actively engage as democratic citizens seeking social justice for a better world.

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