Investigating Teachers’ Views of the Importance and Use of Critical Thinking in Dubai
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Date
2019-04
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The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
Abstract
Critical thinking is needed more than ever to handle various challenges accompanied with the rapid technological development. This study investigated mathematics and science teachers’ views about the importance and use of critical thinking. A sample of twenty-five middle and high school teachers from two private schools in UAE participated in the research. The participants attended a critical thinking professional development and shared their views about eight strategies to develop students’ critical thinking dispositions. The results show that teachers acknowledge the importance of various methods to promote students’ critical thinking, yet they still prefer using traditional teaching methods over student centered learning. Science teachers saw more value in project-based learning and debate while math teachers prioritized questioning and problem based learning for the purpose of fostering their students’ critical thinking. Teachers found a great value in the professional development that they have attended as part of the research. The study recommends further teacher trainings to effectively implement enhanced teaching methods and promote their students to the level of master critical thinkers.
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Keywords
teachers’ views, critical thinking, high school teachers, United Arab Emirates (UAE), science teachers, student centered learning