Pre-Service Teachers' Opinions on Teaching Thinking Skills

AKINOĞLU O., Karsantik Y.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INSTRUCTION, vol.9, no.2, pp.61-76, 2016 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 9 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.12973/iji.2016.925a
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INSTRUCTION
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.61-76
  • Keywords: thinking skills, curriculum and instruction, teaching thinking skills, critical thinking, creative thinking, HIGHER-ORDER THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, STUDENTS, EDUCATION, INSTRUCTION, CLASSROOM
  • Marmara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to determine pre-service teachers. opinions on teaching thinking skills. 134 senior pre-service pre-school, English and mathematics teachers studying at a state university in Istanbul participated in the study which is designed based on survey model. A questionnaire which was developed by the researchers was used in data collection and percentage and frequency values were calculated for the data analysis. The results showed that pre-service teachers thought that thinking skills could be taught and teaching thinking skills should begin in pre-school level. They regarded the mixed approach as the most effective approach in teaching thinking skills. They considered that teachers. and administrators. modeling were considerably important in thinking-friendly classrooms and schools. They believed that being open to different opinions was the most important attribute of teachers who promote thinking. Pre-service teachers perceive themselves partially competent in developing students. thinking skills in the future. However, they emphasized the need for training in teaching thinking skills at schools.