Chapter Three: Discussion of Findings & Pedagogical Implications Introduction After attempting to make a link between critical and language teaching/learning, and also the investigation of the possibility of integrating and correlating between the two, we will devote this chapter to the discussion of our findings, followed by some pedagogical implications and strategies to be implemented in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Then we will shed the light on some recommendations and suggested solutions that we saw as important to compulsory to take into account. Finally, the chapter will display the limitations of the present study especially the hindering pedagogical ones. 3.1. Discussion of Findings The study found evidence that critical thinking is salient and compulsory to enhance students’ mastery of the field and raise their awareness about what they learn, how they learn it, and most importantly why they learn it. When we give master students solutions to problems, they might master those particular problems, however, if we prompt critical thinking skills through effective questioning, that may give them the key to face a multitude of unfamiliar problems. That is exactly what modern education is aiming at; bringing up problem-solvers who are able to face real life problems and use the knowledge they have in dealing and behaving in an fair-minded objective way with new and unfamiliar situations. Our aim from designing the questionnaires was not exactly
To survive in such a multifaceted and diverse world we as people must possess the ability to think critically in highly complex situations. The world is an extremely challenging place, all of us are forced to adapt by constantly challenging existing principles and performing certain methods to ensure our growth both physically and mentally. Many claim that contemporary society needs a skill called critical thinking to adapt and survive. Critical thinking is a higher level of intellectual progression that makes use of diverse information, skills and attitudes in interpreting situations and confronting problems. Critical thinking is done
Critical thinking is described as unbiased, clear and factual thought process that helps any student with any decision-making process. Critical thinking is an essential tool that every student will need to master to continue academic success. There are multiple phases of critical thinking as described by Benjamin Bloom which include remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and creating. The critical thinking process starts by remembering. If we can remember what we read and apply key facts we will be able to move forward to understand what decisions we need to make. From there we can then apply the facts to the decision we have to make and innovate, or create, as needed.
Teaching higher order thinking skills is not a recent need. It is apparent that students, at all levels of education, are lagging in problem-solving and thinking skills. Fragmentation of thinking skills, however, may be the result of critical thinking courses and texts. Every course, especially in content subjects, students should be taught to think logically, analyze and compare, question and evaluate.
This article focused on the constant debate concerning the conditions in which students develop the skill of thinking critically. Being able to use critical thinking requires knowledge of facts and concepts about the subject matter. I found this article interesting because I think it is important that students develop critical thinking skills. Most scholarly articles tend to have an abstract that summarizes the papers entirety. Due to this this article is considered scholarly.
A key component in teaching students critical thinking is being able to engage students in the active process of learning, and one can accomplish this through teaching the class by involving relevant topics that students can relate to. This is a main aspect of Acosta’s critical pedagogy curriculum which involves having the student participate in the academic experience. Acosta shows
Voltaire once said, “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking” (“Voltaire Quotes”) What Voltaire intended to convey was that extensive and critical thinking can allow people to arrive at rational solutions to problems. This is one of the reasons why the significance of thinking critically has become a popular issue that is discussed about in educational systems nowadays. It is imperative that students develop critical thinking skills and not just blindly be taught what to think, but rather how to think. Pure memorization will not lead to authentic learning; instead, encouraging critical thinking is what will help students evaluate problems and make reasonable decisions. As humans are susceptible to emotions, critical
In today’s current school systems, the question of whether or not schools are correctly teaching students the right curriculum is coming up for debate. In the Article,"Teaching Critical Thinking by Marcia Clemmitt, she goes into extensive research of the U.S. Department of Education’s crisis of standardized testing. Most learning activities include standardized testing which lacks many students to express creative and critical thinking. Critical thinking is defined as the examination and evaluation of ideas, events and arguments in their contexts which introduces students to interrogate assumptions and identifying biases (Clemmitt)Pure critical thinking involves investigating a text more than just memorizing, but to apply theirself in other ways of techniques, meaning schools should stimulate more analytical methods of teaching. This would not only free students from a sheltered test culture,but will allow students to think in a deeper,more passionate way than before.
The main concepts presented in the article are the varying definitions of each author on the concept of critical thinking. The information the author uses are definitions which are the opinions of varied authors and are similar in foundation in that to apply critical thinking one must be able to identify a problem, pose a question(s), provide valid supporting evidence, and come to a conclusion. Although the author’s definitions do not identify a problem, questions, evidence, or conclusions, the relationship Petress (2004) shows is that the reader must apply this process themselves as it is not always given. The information used does appear to be relevant, significant, and valid. The references the author listed does provide enough information for me to come to this conclusion. Since this work is a literature review and not a case study, numerical data are not necessary to determine validity of the information.
Critical thinking is a vital task that must be done in our everyday lives. In “Becoming a Critic Of Your Thinking” found at criticalthinking.org, Dr. Linda Elder and Dr. Richard Paul explain critical thinking as “the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances”. Even tough there are many different types of methods to achieve a better quality of critical thinking, Dr. Elder and Dr. Paul discuss four specific ones in the article. All strategies, however, force you to put yourself in an uncomfortable and difficult position to develop a better quality of thinking.
Critical thinking is ubiquitous; it is needed in the workforce, in the school, and in life. Teachers and college professors often emphasize critical thinking is the key for success in college. While critical thinking is significant, there are often faults about critical thinking in general because of the lack of a clear definition. Providing a clear definition of critical thinking will guide students to understand what it critical thinking truly is and it will also guide to improve their critical thinking.
According to Supon, one of the fundamental purposes of teaching critical thinking is to enhance the abilities of students to become critical thinkers. Corporate leaders, educational researchers, employers, and parents have continually pushed teachers to assist their students in the development of critical thinking ability. Critical thinking is a skill that ?involved not only knowledge of content by also concept formation and analysis, reasoning and drawing conclusions, recognizing and avoiding contradiction, and other essential cognitive activities? (Supon, 1998).
Critical thinking is a significant and essential topic in recent education. The strategy of critical thinking skills helps identify areas in one's courses as the suitable place to highlight, expand and use some problems in exams that test students' critical thinking skills.
This report contains detailed and explanatory notes on the Presentation of Findings of the fifty completed Research Questionnaires.
Furthermore, I believe that one of the most important skills that students should learn in the classroom is critical thinking. This skill is an invaluable asset in the work-place and daily life, and therefore critical thinking is one of the fundamental aspects of my pedagogical approach. I help my students acquire this skill by promoting and respecting intellectual diversity in the classroom. This approach provides students with an example to follow, as well reassures them that the classroom is a safe space where they can openly express themselves and their ideas. In saying this, I recognize that intellectual diversity can be expressed in a variety of ways outside and inside the academic setting. One way intellectual diversity is manifested in the academic setting is by the different world-views which my students bring to the classroom. The second way intellectual diversity is expressed in academia is in the different approaches students utilize to learn information. I believe that in order to successfully expand student’ critical thinking, both types of intellectual diversity need to be promoted in the classroom.
When defining the term “critical thinking” it can seem overwhelming and daunting, especially for young learners. In laments terms, you are teaching your student how to think for him or herself when it comes to problem solving. Instead of giving the student the answer, you give them the tools to discover the answer him/herself. Critical thinking is an important component of any classroom. No matter the age group, these skills stay with a child for the rest of his or her life. As a teacher, it is important to understand what critical thinking pertains to and how to structure part of your lesson plan around developing critical thinking skills.