INVESTIGATING TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR OWN PRACTICES TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ CRITICAL THINKING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SAUDI ARABIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5937/ijcrsee1803015AKeywords:
Critical thinking ability, Teaching practices, Students, Secondary schoolsAbstract
This study aims to investigate teachers’ perceptions of strategies they adopt to help their learners develop their critical thinking skills and how coherent their classroom practices are with their perceptions. The study was conducted with teachers in secondary schools in Saudi Arabia. Primary data in the form of questionnaire results, classroom observation notes and interviews was gathered to attain this goal. A total of three all-male schools participated in the study with 82 teachers completing the questionnaire, and 12 teachers (four from each school) being interviewed and observed during their classroom work. The findings suggest that positing open-ended questions to the class, focusing on performance tasks, and comparing and contrasting different perspectives were the most beneficial teaching strategies to foster students’ critical thinking skills. The findings also highlight that these capabilities are affected not only by the teaching practices, but also by other factors related to the broader academic environment, such as school resources. The results of the present study may help secondary teachers to select and implement teaching strategies and consider factors that may lead to an improvement in students’ critical thinking skills. While this study focuses exclusively on teachers working in the secondary schools in Saudi Arabia, some of the findings can be potentially transferable to other similar educational contexts.
Downloads
References
Alamri, M. (2011). Higher education in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 11 (4), 88-91. http://www.na-businesspress.com/JHETP/alamri_abstract.html
Alaqeel, A. (2013) The policy and system of education in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 10th edition. Riyadh: Alroshed. (In Arabic)
Aldiab, A., Chowdhury, H., Kootsookos, A., & Alam, F. (2017). Prospect of eLearning in higher education sectors of Saudi Arabia: A review. Energy Procedia, 110, 574-580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.187
Algarfi, A. (2010). Teachers’ and pupils’ perceptions of and responses to cooperative learning methods within the Islamic culture courses in one secondary school in Saudi Arabia (Doctoral dissertation, University of Southampton). https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/166259/
Al Ghamdi, A. K. H., & Deraney, P. M. (2013). Effects of Teaching Critical Thinking to Saudi Female University Students Using a Stand-Alone Course. International Education Studies, 6(7), 176-188. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v6n7p176
Allamnakhrah, A. (2013). Learning critical thinking in Saudi Arabia: Student perceptions of secondary pre-service teacher education programs. Journal of Education and learning, 2(1), 197. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jel.v2n1p197
Alothman, M., Robertson, J., & Michaelson, G. (2017). Computer usage and attitudes among Saudi Arabian undergraduate students. Computers & Education, 110, 127-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2017.02.010
Alwadai, M. A. (2014). Islamic Teachers’ Perceptions of Improving Critical Thinking Skills in Saudi Arabian Elementary Schools. Journal of Education and Learning, 3(4), 37. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jel.v3n4p37
Al Lily, A. (2018). The bro code of Saudi culture: 1234 bite-sized explanations of how the human body acts in Arabia. 10th edition. Saudi Arabia, Khobar: Self-Published. https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=RrL4DAAAQBAJ&dq=The+bro+code+of+Saudi+culture:+1234+bite-sized+explanations+of+how+the+human+body+acts+in+Arabia.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjLzK702eDeAhXOtIsKHYxxCr0Q6AEIKTAA
Anderson, L. (2004). Increasing teacher effectiveness. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001376/137629e.pdf
Arsić, Z. (2014). Intellectual independence of students in the process of gaining knowledge. International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education (IJCRSEE), 2(2), 83-86. Retrieved from https://ijcrsee.com/index.php/ijcrsee/article/view/141
Black, B. (2013). An A to Z of Critical Thinking, London: Bloomsbury. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=SjQSBwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=An+A+to+Z+of+Critical+Thinking&ots=j3Wa1cba_I&sig=bl1weaqOfL92LrI3ZVFJUpFGgfw#v=onepage&q=An%20A%20to%20Z%20of%20Critical%20Thinking&f=false Boa, E. A., Wattanatorn, A., & Tagong, K. (2018). The development and validation of the Blended Socratic Method of Teaching (BSMT): An instructional model to enhance critical thinking skills of undergraduate business students. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 39(1), 81-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjss.2018.01.001
Brookfield, S. (2012). Teaching for Critical Thinking, Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=r7DG2e41pZMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Teaching+for+critical+thinking+2012&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiH0K-LndPdAhVFQRoKHVRHDioQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Teaching%20for%20critical%20thinking%202012&f=false
Browne, M. N., & Freeman, K. (2000). Distinguishing features of critical thinking classrooms. Teaching in Higher Education, 5(3), 301-309. https://doi.org/10.1080/713699143
Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods. 5th edition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=N2zQCgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Social+Research+Methods&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjY3oas2uDeAhWsp4sKHV3vAPwQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=Social%20Research%20Methods&f=false
Bryman, A. & Bell, E. (2015). Business Research Methods (5th ed.).Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?hl=en&lr=&id=l7u6BwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=+Business+Research+Methods+&ots=AwNnAcTRk&sig=IB8Hvpskg-LmzUxwrRrcQcbyJR4&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Business%20Research%20Methods&f=false
Busher, H., & James, N. (2012). The ethical framework of research practice. Research methods in educational leadership & management, 90-104. Retrieved from https://books.google.rs/books?hl=sr&lr=&id=_1FdBAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA90&dq=Busher,+H.+%26+James,+N.+(2012).+The+ethical+framework+of+research+practice,+in+Briggs,+A.,+Coleman,+M.+%26+Morrison,+M.+(eds.)+Research+Methods+in+Educational+Leadership+%26+Management.+3rd+edn.+London:+SAGE,+90-104.&ots=i2whgYqUz9&sig=-RHGpoEXxBkkGxUMjiSQDJ6KBgQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Cargas, S., Williams, S., & Rosenberg, M. (2017). An approach to teaching critical thinking across disciplines using performance tasks with a common rubric. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 26, 24-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2017.05.005
Carter, A. G., Creedy, D. K., & Sidebotham, M. (2016). Efficacy of teaching methods used to develop critical thinking in nursing and midwifery undergraduate students: A systematic review of the literature. Nurse education today, 40, 209-218.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2016.03.010
Cohen, L., Manion, L. & Morrison, K. (2011) Research Methods in Education.7th edition. London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=iaQ5DwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Re+search+Methods+in+Education&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi7qaOA3ODeAhXjlosKHWJhAhYQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=Re%20search%20Methods%20in%20Education&f=false
Copeland, M. (2005). Socratic Circles: Fostering Critical and Creative Thinking in Middle and High School. Portland: Stenhouse Publishers. Retrieved from https://books.google.rs/books?hl=en&lr=&id=rPGPlQ8RgC0C&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=+Socratic+Circles:+Fostering+Critical+and+Creative+Thinking+in+Middle+and+High+School&ots=xg7zdls952&sig=KItc-3lBTEauKtHWuq383xSHG3I&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Socratic%20Circles%3A%20Fostering%20Critical%20and%20Creative%20Thinking%20in%20Middle%20and%20High%20School&f=false
Creswell, J. & Creswell, J. (2017). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Approaches (5th ed.). London: SAGE. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=J4w5DwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Research+design:+Qualitative,+quantitative,+and+mixed+methods+approaches&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7yd-VoNPdAhUI0xoKHeg5CasQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Research%20design%3A%20Qualitative%2C%20quantitative%2C%20and%20mixed%20methods%20approaches&f=false
Daniel, J. (2012) Sampling Essentials. London: SAGE. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=RJC87h4hCvIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Sampling+Essentials&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwifpc7eoNPdAhXBx4UKHXiXDp4Q6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=Sampling%20Essentials&f=false
Ennis, R. (1962). A concept of critical thinking. Harvard Educational Review, 32(1), 81-111. Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/record/1963-00458-001
Glaser, E. (1941). An Experiment in the Development of Critical Thinking. New York: Bureau of Publications of Columbia University. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=aO89AAAAYAAJ&dq=An+Experiment+in+the+Development+of+Critical+Thinking&focus=searchwithinvol-ume&q=An+Experiment+in+the+Development+of+Critical+Thinking
Gottesman, A. J., & Hoskins, S. G. (2013). CREATE cornerstone: introduction to scientific thinking, a new course for STEM-interested freshmen, demystifies scientific thinking through analysis of scientific literature. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 12(1), 59-72. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.12-11-0201
Guba, E. & Lincoln, Y. (2005). Paradigmatic controversies, contradictions, and emerging confluences, in Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. (eds.) The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research. London: SAGE, 191–216. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=AmPgDQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Sage+Handbook+of+Qualitative+Research+2005&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBt6_Q3ODeAhXqtI-%20sKHTRHDysQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=The%20Sage%20Handbook%20of%20Qualitative%20Research%202005&f=false
Hinton, P., McMurray, I. & Brownlow, C. (2014). SPSS explained, London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=Q_gjAwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=SPSS+explained&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwidjJaMo9PdAhVNKBoKHXCjBZ4Q6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=SPSS%20explained&f=false
Hooks, B. (2010). Teaching Critical Thinking: Practical Wisdom. London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=tIfcYgEACAAJ&dq=Teaching+Critical+Thinking:+Practical+Wisdom&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiTg863o9PdAhUHxxoKHfylAxwQ6AEIKTAA
Hughes, W., & Lavery, J. (2015). Critical Thinking: An Introduction to the Basic Skills-Canadian Seventh Edition. Broadview Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=7c6kCQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Critical+Thinking:+An+Introduction+to+the+Basic+Skills&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjX-7_ao9PdAhVJxIUKHTeDCkoQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=Critical%20Thinking%3A%20An%20Introduction%20to%20the%20Basic%20Skills&f=false
Innabi, H. (2003). Aspects of critical thinking in classroom instruction of secondary school mathematics teachers in Jordan. In Mathematics Education into the 21st Century Project Proceedings of the International Conference, Czech Republic. Retrieved from http://www.math.unipa.it/~grim/21_project/21_brno03_Innabi.pdf
Jackson, D. & Newberry, P. (2011). Critical Thinking: A User’s Manual. Boston: Cengage Learning. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=1xRIdpBBJkoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Critical+Thinking:+A+User%27s+Manual&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwipo5KYpdPdAhUO3RoKHSPCDSIQ6AEILTAB#v=onepage&q=Critical%20Thinking%3A%20A%20User’s%20Manual&f=false
Larsson, K. (2017). Understanding and teaching critical thinking—A new approach. International Journal of Educational Research, 84, 32-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2017.05.004
Lee, Y. L. (2018). Nurturing critical thinking for implementation beyond the classroom: Implications from social psychological theories of behavior change. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 27, 139-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2018.02.003
Montgomery, D. C., Peck, E. A., & Vining, G. G. (2012). Introduction to linear regression analysis (Vol. 821). John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=lSyiRZh09oEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Introduction+to+Linear+Regression+Analysis&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiptfuPptPdAhVMOBoKHVT8CQMQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=Introduction%20to%20Linear%20Regression%20Analysis&f=false
Moon, J. (2007). Critical Thinking: An Exploration of Theory and Practice. London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=BOmkEro_IGYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Critical+Thinking:+An+Exploration+of+Theory+and+Practice&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiKpKi5ptPdAhWPxoUKHeC-D5gQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=Critical%20Thinking%3A%20An%20Exploration%20of%20Theory%20and%20Practice&f=false
Nazer, F. (2017). Saudi Arabian education reform making real strides. Retrieved March 17, 2018, from http://www.arabnews.com/node/1134706
Newby, P. (2010). Research Methods for Education. Edinburgh: Pearson. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=3RUAyjH7wUoC&dq=Research+Methods+for+Education&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigpo-U3eDeAhWElYsKHfYvA-MQ6AEISDAF
Nosich, G. (2012). Learning to Think Things Through: A Guide to Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum. Boston: Pearson Higher Education. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=8QIrAAAAQBAJ&dq=Learning+to+Think+Things+Through:+A+Guide+to+Critical+Thinking+Across+the+Curriculum.+Boston&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDxOHwptPdAhVIzYUKHT_DBgkQ6AEIJjAA
Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2013). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your professional and personal life. Pearson Education. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=tcuEAAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Critical+Thinking:+Tools+for+Taking+Charge+of+Your+Professional+and+Personal+Life&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwje4s6gp9PdAhWh4IUKHTRZDroQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=Critical%20Thinking%3A%20Tools%20for%20Taking%20Charge%20of%20Your%20Professional%20and%20Personal%20Life&f=false Petek, E., & Bedir, H. (2018). An adaptable teacher education framework for critical thinking in language teaching. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 28, 56-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2018.02.008
Popovici, A., & Mironov, C. (2015). Students’ perception on using eLearning technologies. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 180, 1514-1519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.300
Punch, K. (2009). Introduction to Research Methods in Education. London: SAGE. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=lBvMqiaN5EgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Introduction+to+Research+Methods+in+Education.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwimkJDS3eDeAhUvp4sKHYVIAz0Q6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=Introduction%20to%20Research%20Methods%20in%20Education.&f=false
Rahimi, M., & Hosseini, K. F. (2012). EFL teachers’ classroom discipline strategies: The students’ perspective. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 31, 309-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.12.060
Salmon, M. (2013). Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking (6th ed.). Boston: Wadsworth. Retrieved from https://books.google.rs/books?hl=sr&lr=&id=vd8JAAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=Salmon,+M.+(2013).+Introduction+to+Logic+and+Critical+Thinking+(6th+ed.).+Boston:+Wadsworth.+&ots=6pwpQAIevc&sig=lNuR1Rl6MoQswXDyJCpyAz7hqIE&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Salmon%2C%20M.%20(2013).%20Introduction%20to%20Logic%20and%20Critical%20Thinking%20(6th%20ed.).%20Boston%3A%20Wadsworth.&f=false Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2015). Re-search Methods for Business Students (7th ed.). London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=vUdOCgAAQBAJ&dq=Research+Methods+for+Business+Students&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKu93aqNPdAhUO-YUKHQlfCu8Q6AEIJjAA
Smith, T. E., Rama, P. S., & Helms, J. R. (2018). Teaching critical thinking in a GE class: A flipped model. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 28, 73-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2018.02.010
Urcola-Pardo, F., Blázquez-Ornat, I., Anguas-Gracia, A., Gasch-Gallen, Á., & Germán-Bes, C. (2018). Perceptions of nursing students after performing an individual activity designed to develop their critical thinking: The “critical card” tool. Nurse education in practice, 29, 35-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2017.11.005
Thomas, G. (2017). How to Do Your Research Project: A Guide for Students. Sage. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=ucPaAwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=How+to+Do+Your+Research++Project&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9ubGb3uDeAhUEtYsKHfPeC6cQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=How%20to%20Do%20Your%20Research%20%20Project&f=false
Tsankov, N. (2017). Development of transversal competences in school education (a didactic interpretation). International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education (IJCRSEE), 5(2), 129-144. https://doi.org/10.5937/IJCRSEE1702129T
Yin, R. (2014). Case Study Research-Design and Methods. 5th edition. London: SAGE. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=OgyqBAAAQBAJ&dq=Case+Study+Research-Design+and+Methods.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY2bfB3uDeAhWHKCwKHbcgCvoQ6AEIMzAC
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2018
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Metrics
