scholarly journals Examination of Critical Thinking Skills of Preservice Science Teachers: A Perspective of Social Constructivist Theory

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umit Demiral

The purpose of this study is to examine the critical thinking skills of preservice science teachers in terms of various variables (gender, grade level, academic grade point average, participation in activities) and their opinions. In the research, sequential explanatory design, which is one of the mixed method research designs, was used. The study was carried out with 200 preservice teachers studying at Science Education Department of a state university chosen at Cappadocia region of Turkey. Interviews were conducted with low-level (f=7) and high-level (f=7) preservice teachers selected by means of purposive sampling method from these pre-service teachers participating in the study. Regarding the quantitative and qualitative data obtained; it has been determined that the critical thinking skills of the preservice teachers did not show any significant difference according to gender, grade level and academic grade point average, but there was a significant difference in terms of the activities performed. Preservice teachers expressed that their family structures, social environments in which they interact, and characteristic features were said to be effective in the development of critical thinking skills. Regarding the findings, it has been concluded that trainings that will evoke higher level skills such as critical thinking skills in universities can be effective, but the social and cultural background of the preservice teachers are also effective on these skills. It is recommended to prepare contents that enhance higher level skills such as critical thinking skills as well as education for pedagogy or content knowledge given at universities.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irwanto

This study aimed at analyzing the level of students' critical thinking skills as well as investigating the correlation between students' critical thinking skills and their grade level. A survey involving 220 pre-service chemistry teachers of Yogyakarta State University, Indonesia was conducted. The sample was taken using the convenience sampling technique. The data were collected using a Critical Thinking Rubric (OHRCT) developed by Oliver-Hoyo (2003). The result of this study shows that (i) the average score of students' critical thinking skills was still considered low (13.95±2.151), (ii) abstract and written presentation appeared as the components that obtained the highest and the lowest score respectively, (iii) significant difference was found between the score of students' critical thinking skills based on grade level in favour of junior students (p=0.000), and (iv) a moderate positive and linear correlation existed between the students' critical thinking skills and grade level (r=0.442, p=0.000). The findings indicate that the improvement in students' critical thinking skills has certain influences on the improvement of students' cognition and learning experience after attending courses in chemistry. Based on the result, several recommendations have been proposed to improve university students' critical thinking skills.


Author(s):  
Irwanto Irwanto ◽  
Eli Rohaeti ◽  
A.K. Prodjosantoso

This study aimed at analyzing the level of students' critical thinking skills as well as investigating the correlation between students' critical thinking skills and their grade level. A survey involving 220 pre-service chemistry teachers of Yogyakarta State University, Indonesia was conducted. The sample was taken using the convenience sampling technique. The data were collected using a Critical Thinking Rubric (OHRCT) developed by Oliver-Hoyo (2003). The result of this study shows that (i) the average score of students' critical thinking skills was still considered low (13.95±2.151), (ii) abstract and written presentation appeared as the components that obtained the highest and the lowest score respectively, (iii) significant difference was found between the score of students' critical thinking skills based on grade level in favour of junior students (p=0.000), and (iv) a moderate positive and linear correlation existed between the students' critical thinking skills and grade level (r=0.442, p=0.000). The findings indicate that the improvement in students' critical thinking skills has certain influences on the improvement of students' cognition and learning experience after attending courses in chemistry. Based on the result, several recommendations have been proposed to improve university students' critical thinking skills.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boban Simonovic ◽  
Katia Vione ◽  
Dean Fido ◽  
Edward Stupple ◽  
James Martin ◽  
...  

Learning and development of critical thinking skills in higher education is essential for academic achievement. The following experiment is first to examine the effect of online student perceptions and attitudes towards critical thinking across dimensions of confidence, valuing, misconceptions cognitive reflection and authors writing. Furthermore, we developed and examined the effect of four critical thinking workshops with an aim to help students improve their grade point average. Our analyses demonstrated that student’s confidence and cognitive reflection predict academic achievement. Moreover, the online CT intervention improved students’ CT attitudes, skills, and academic performance. Significant interactions were observed between time (pre and post-intervention) and intervention in cognitive reflection (as measured by the extend version of the cognitive reflection test; CRT) confidence beliefs and attitudes related to critical thinking (as measured by the critical thinking toolkit CriTT), and student grade point average (GPA; as measured by students performance on online modules). It was concluded that the critical thinking can be thought and that an intervention based ‘how to think’ rather than ‘what to think’ mixed approach can help students develop critical thinking, strengthen their confidence in critical thinking and help students improve their academic performance in an online setting.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
M. Davut Gul ◽  
Hakan Akcay

The purpose of the study was to propose a new socioscientific issues based instruction model and to investigate the impacts of new model on PSTs’ critical thinking skills and dispositions in climate change unit. Quasi-experimental method was applied. The sample of the study was determined by convenient sampling and it was comprised of 90 junior PSTs. The experimental group in which SSI based instruction was implemented, consists of 45 pre-service teachers, and there were 45 pre-service teachers in the control group. Data was gathered quantitatively with the help of Turkish version of the Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test (E-WCTET) and the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI).  Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine the impacts of new model on the critical thinking skills and dispositions of PSTs in experiment and control groups. Findings of the study revealed that there is no statistically significant difference between the treatment and the control group's critical thinking skills scores. However, the posttest scores of the treatment group were increased. Also, results indicated that there is a statistically significant difference between the treatment and the control group's critical thinking dispositions scores. Implications for teaching practice are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1918 (5) ◽  
pp. 052070
Author(s):  
S Siswanto ◽  
H Hartono ◽  
B Subali ◽  
M Masturi ◽  
S Haryati ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irwanto Irwanto

This study aimed at analyzing the level of students' critical thinking skills as well as investigating the correlation between students' critical thinking skills and their grade level. A survey involving 220 pre-service chemistry teachers of Yogyakarta State University, Indonesia was conducted. The sample was taken using the convenience sampling technique. The data were collected using a Critical Thinking Rubric (OHRCT) developed by Oliver-Hoyo (2003). The result of this study shows that (i) the average score of students' critical thinking skills was still considered low (13.95±2.151), (ii) abstract and written presentation appeared as the components that obtained the highest and the lowest score respectively, (iii) significant difference was found between the score of students' critical thinking skills based on grade level in favour of junior students (p=0.000), and (iv) a moderate positive and linear correlation existed between the students' critical thinking skills and grade level (r=0.442, p=0.000). The findings indicate that the improvement in students' critical thinking skills has certain influences on the improvement of students' cognition and learning experience after attending courses in chemistry. Based on the result, several recommendations have been proposed to improve university students' critical thinking skills.


Author(s):  
Wadha H. Al-Otaibi

The study aimed at identifying the effectivness of a suggested model for learning through projects based on shared learning in developing critical thinking skills and self-efficiency in Princess Nourah bint Abdularhman University (PNU). The study included a sample of 76 students from the specialization of primary level teachers in PNU randomly chosen, in which 39 students represented the experimental group. This group was taught the course of learning through projects using a suggested model. The other 37 students formed the control group and were taught the course in the conventional teaching manner. The critical thinking test and the self-efficiency scale were both administered before and after the experiment. The study revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the means between the experimental and control groups in the critical thinking skills test and the self-efficiency sclae in favor of the experimental group. 


Author(s):  
Nourah Marzouq Al Qathami - Ghadir Zein Eddin Flambain

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara M. van Peppen ◽  
Peter P. J. L. Verkoeijen ◽  
Anita Heijltjes ◽  
Eva Janssen ◽  
Tamara van Gog

There is a need for effective methods to teach critical thinking. Many studies on other skills have demonstrated beneficial effects of practice that repeatedly induces retrieval processes (repeated retrieval practice). The present experiment investigated whether repeated retrieval practice is effective for fostering critical thinking skills, focusing on avoiding biased reasoning. Seventy-five students first took a pre-test. Subsequently, they were instructed on critical thinking and avoiding belief-bias in syllogistic reasoning and engaged in retrieval practice with syllogisms. Afterwards, depending on the assigned condition, they (1) did not engage in extra retrieval practice; (2) engaged in retrieval practiced a second time (week later); or (3) engaged in retrieval practiced a second (week later) and a third time (two weeks later). Two/three days after the last practice session, all participants took a post-test consisting of practiced tasks (to measure learning relative to the pre-test) and non-practiced (transfer) tasks. Results revealed no significant difference between the pretest and the posttest learning performance as judged by the mean total performance (MC-answers + justification), although participants were, on average, faster on the post-test than on the pre-test. Exploring performance on MC-answers-only suggested that participants did benefit from instruction/practice but may have been unable to justify their answers. Unfortunately, we were unable to test effects on transfer due to a floor effect, which highlights the difficulty of establishing transfer of critical thinking skills. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that addresses repeated retrieval practice effects in the critical thinking domain. Further research should focus on determining the preconditions of repeated retrieval practice effects for this type of tasks.


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