Developing Critical Thinking Skills from Dispositions to Abilities: Mathematics Education from Early Childhood to High School

Abstract

In light of the importance of developing critical thinking, and given the scarcity of research on critical thinking in mathematics education in the broader context of higher order thinking skills, we have carried out a research that examined how teaching strategies oriented towards developing higher-order thinking skills influenced students' critical thinking abilities. The guiding rationale of the work was that such teaching can foster the students' skills of and dispositions towards critical thinking. In this article, we discuss ways in which critical thinking can be incorporated in mathematics instruction. In particular, we highlight how content taught in the probability strand can intentionally be focused on the development of students' critical thinking. We report results of a study demonstrating improvement in secondary mathematics students' dispositions towards critical thinking and abilities to think critically.

Critical Thinking Disposition and Scientific Creativity: The Mediating Role of Creative Self‐Efficacy

“…This study aimed at shedding some light on how critical thinking disposition may relate to creative ability in the domain of science. We expected critical thinkers to also be more creative thinkers, thanks to their curiosity, but we also predicted that they would be well‐organized and careful while tackling problems (Aizikovitsh‐Udi & Cheng, ; Ennis, ; Heijltjes et al., ; Jiang & Yang, ). These characteristics allow them to succeed and consequently build their confidence into their creativity.…”

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Developing Critical Thinking Skills of Students in Mathematics Learning

“…Mathematics learning can develop critical thinking skills in mathematics require complex mathematical tasks that can encourage higher order thinking skills (Henningsen & Stein, 1997). High level mathematics problems that involve thinking, analysis, synthesis can stimulate students' critical thinking skills (Krulik & Rudnick, 1995;Aizikovitsh & Cheng, 2015). Thus the complex problem-solving activities will enhance students' understanding and can apply the knowledge built in the new situation (Henningsen & Stein, 1997).…”

Critical Thinking Disposition: Students Skeptic in Dealing with Ill-Logical Mathematics Problem

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