ISSN(Print): 2709-6254 | ISSN(Online) : 2709-6262 | ISSN-L : 2709-6254

Title

Secondary School Science Teachers’ Practices for the Development of Critical Thinking Skills: An Observational Study


Authors

  1. Dr. Muhammad Jamil
    Tutor, Resource Person and Supervisor, AIOU, Islamabad, Pakistan
  2. Dr. Yaar Muhammad
    Assistant Professor, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
  3. Dr. Naima Qureshi
    Assistant Professor, University of Education, Lahore, , Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

In the National curriculum policy documents, to produce rationale and independent critical thinkers, different pedagogical practices have been recommended like cooperative learning, questioning, discussion, etc. This qualitative case study aimed at analyzing secondary school science teachers’ practices for the development of critical thinking skills in secondary school students. There were twelve classrooms (four from each subject of Physics, Chemistry and Biology) selected as cases. Video recording was used for the observations for six lessons in each classroom. In this way, a total of 72 observations were conducted lasting for approximately 35 minutes. Qualitative content analysis was used for data analysis through Nvivo 12. The findings of the observations revealed that all the teachers used the lecture method. They used this to cover the content at a given specific time. There was not much focus on the development of critical thinking. In a few of the classrooms, the students were engaged and active during learning different specific topics. Whiteboard was used as a visual aid by most of the teachers. Furthermore, to some extent, discussion, questioning, and daily life examples were used in different classrooms. It is recommended that teachers’ professional development should be conducted to focus on the development of critical thinking skills through pedagogical practices which have been recommended by the national education policy documents.

Page Numers

259-265

Keywords

Analysis, Critical Thinking, Curriculum Policy, Pedagogy, Secondary Level

Article

Article # 22
Volume # 2
Issue # 4

DOI info

DOI Number: 10.47205/jdss.2021(2-IV)22
DOI Link: http://doi.org/10.47205/jdss.2021(2-IV)22

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