To investigate the primary school teachers’ understanding of critical thinking skills in KSSR classroom. To explore teachers’ perception on the importance of critical thinking to student

Wirawani Kamarulzaman,

English

Open University Malaysia Knowledge Repository

Primary School Teachers’ Understanding of Critical Thinking in KSSR Classroom Dr Wirawani KamarulzamanProf Dr Rosnani Hashimand Its Importance to StudentsINTRODUCTION In the 21st century where information is easily accessible,critical thinking is needed to select important andappropriate information or knowledge to be practiced -whatto believe and how to use the massive amount ofinformation to make informed decisions.The change from the New Primary School Curriculum(Kurikulum Baru Sekolah Rendah) or KBSR to the newPrimary School Standard Curriculum (Kurikulum StandardSekolah Rendah) or KSSR in 2011 beginning with the YearOne students no longer emphasized the importance ofknowledge only, but also on developing higher orderthinking skills.KSSR - to restructure and improve the existing curriculumto ensure students are provided with the knowledge, skillsand values that are relevant to meet current needs andchallenges of the 21st century.Since critical thinking skills are crucial for students’ cognitive development, and it was introduced in the new curriculum for primary students, it is important to prepare teachers with the knowledge, competency, and good attitude towards learning management with emphasis on critical thinking as well as self-development.Thus, teachers themselves should be first be equipped with the skills before they could teach students. Due to this development, various studies were found to suggest that critical thinking should be taught in classroom. But none were found to study the understanding of teachers on critical thinking skills and its importance to students.Research Objectives 1.Investigate the primary school teachers’ understanding of critical thinking skills in KSSR classroom2.Explore teachers’ perception on the importance of critical thinking to studentsMETHOD Six teachers with diverse academic background from a primary school in Gombak, Selangor were purposely selected for the study.  The interview was done and probing questions were asked until saturation level was met.  The data was recorded and transcribed.  Data analysis was done through coding method and themes were emerged from data transcribed.FINDINGS & DISCUSSIONRO1) Teachers' Understanding of Critical Thinking Skills in KSSR Classrooma) Gather Information The ability to gather information through inquiry skills enable them to be able to think critically. Teachers believed that the ability to seek information is another skill in critical thinking. This idea is consistent with Paul and Elder  (2012) who state that critical thinking required students to gather and assess information. Facione (2000) also deems that being inquisitive and curious affects someone to value being well-informed and he or she advocates learning, and understand how to achieve something. b) Express thoughtsThe ability to express thoughts - in the form ofgiving suggestions as well as presenting ideasas mentioned by the informants.Teachers also postulated that in the KSSRclassrooms, students have the opportunity tospeak and communicate their ideas throughgroup discussions and group presentations.An informant who compared KSSR to theprevious curriculum stated that even though theprevious and the current curriculum are similar interms of the formal teaching approach whereteachers talk and write on the board, KSSR hasmore than that, it requires students to go to thefront of the class and present their ideas.c) Problem Solving. The data also revealed that most of the teachersviewed one of the critical thinking skills is problem-solving skill. Through experiment, when students createdhypotheses, they need to solve the problem in theexperiment to prove whether or not their hypothesiswas true. This is congruent with Halpern (2014) who definescritical thinking as a kind of thinking that involvesproblem solving. She found problem solving to be a ‘hot’ topic recentlysince the world is facing a lot of issues and problems.Thus it is crucial to equip students with problem solvingskills and this is provided in KSSR.d) Analysis Informants believe that when a studentis able to analyze a situation, or topicat hand, it shows that the student isthinking critically.This is evident when teachers reportedthat students need to analyze questionsgiven by teachers in classroom, andthen they need to solve the problemsfrom the questions.This is compatible to Paul and Elder(2012) who revealed that criticalthinking is “the art of analysing andevaluating with the view to improve it”.RO2) Teachers' Perception of the Importance of Critical Thinking Skills to Studentsa) Application of Knowledge Most of the informants reported that by having critical thinking skills, itenabled students to apply their knowledge in their everyday life aswell as in future academic endeavors. Teachers also admitted that the skill of critical thinking can beapplicable to university life as well as working lives of students. They need this skill to function well in the future whether in studyingor in workplace.b) Able to Make Decision Besides the student's ability to apply knowledge to new situations, bypromoting critical thinking skills in the curriculum, KSSR also helpsstudents to be able to make decisions. Teachers believed when they have to create activities in classrooms,that enable students to think and decide. A teachers expressed that students needed to be selective especiallywhen it comes to using technologyCONCLUSION Findings suggested that teachers understand thatcritical thinking among students in KSSRclassrooms involved the ability to gather information,to express thought, to solve problems, and toanalyze. They also were found to view critical thinking skillsas important since it enable student to applyknowledge and to make decision. The findings signify limited knowledge of teachersof critical thinking skills. Although they seem to have some ideas about theskills, the responses collected indicated that lack ofexposure to the skills itself and they need to betrained well in order to define the concept betterand to be able to relate to students’ ability andachievementReferences• Aliakbari, M., & Sadeghdaghighi, A. (2013). Teachers’ perception of the barriers to critical thinking. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 70, 1–5. • Boonjeam, W., Tesaputa, K., & Sri-Ampai, A. (2017). Program development for primary school teachers’ critical thinking. International Education Studies, 10(2).• Carlgren, T. (2013). Communication, critical thinking, problem solving: A suggested course for all high school students in the 21st century. Interchange, 44(1–2), 63–81. • Halpern, D. (2014). Thought and knowledge: An introduction to critical thinking. (5th ed.) New York: Psychology Press.• Larson, L. C., & Miller, T. N. (2011). 21st century skills: Prepare students for the future. Kappa Delta Pi Record• Massa, S. (2014). The development of critical thinking in primary school; The role of teachers’ belief. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 141, 387–392. • McCain, T. & Jukes, I. (2001). Windows on the future: Education in an age of technology. USA: Corwin Press Inc.• Moon, J. (2008). Critical thinking: An exploration of theory and practice. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group..Free PPT _ Click to add titleFree PPT Templates - Standard (4:3)This PowerPoint Template has clean and neutral design that can be adapted to any content and meets various market segments. With this many slides you are able to make a complete PowerPoint Presentation that best suit your needs. This PowerPoint Template has clean and neutral design that can be adapted to any content and meets various market segments. 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Primary School Teachers’ Understanding of Critical Thinking in KSSR Classroom and Its Importance to Students

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Primary School Teachers’ Understanding of Critical Thinking in KSSR Classroom and Its Importance to Students

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