Relationship of creativity and critical thinking to pattern recognition among Singapore private school students

Abstract

Cognitive pattern recognition is known to be an important skill for academic subjects such as mathematics, science, languages, or even humanities. In this study, we investigate the relationships between creativity, critical thinking, and pattern recognition among 203 private school students in Singapore. The instruments used include a creativity test (modified Creativity Selected Elements Questionnaire), a Critical Thinking Test (modified Cornell Critical Thinking), and a pattern recognition test. The main data analysis is done using the SMART-PLS structural equation modeling software. The results of the study reveal that creativity is a weak predictor of pattern recognition (β?=?0.131, p?>?0.05, f² = 0.024) but critical thinking is a good predictor (β?=?0.517, p?<?0.05, f² = 0.374). An implication of the research outcome is that more training on critical thinking should be given to the students to improve their pattern recognition ability.     

高中信息技术课程教学中计算思维的培养

计算思维是未来社会每个人应该具有的基本能为之一,因此,如何在高中信息技术课堂中培养学生的计算思维能力就显得尤为重要。文章从高中信息技术课程开展现状出发,对高中信息技术课堂中如何培养计算思维的几个方面展开了分析。     

对西安市城镇高中生批判性思维的初步调查

This paper reports the development of critical thinking of urban high school students in the Chinese city of Xi’an. It presents the assessment of the students’ two components of critical thinking: dispositions towards critical thinking and critical thinking skills, using the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory and the California Critical Thinking Skills Test. Results show that the students’ dispositions toward critical thinking are at an average level while their critical thinking skills are very low. This research also shows that there is no significant difference between students from science classes and arts classes in their critical thinking dispositions while science students have a higher level of critical thinking skills. Students from advanced classes have a higher level of the two components of critical thinking than their counterparts from general classes. There are no differences between male students and female students in both components.      

逻辑悖论与批判性思维

批判性思维既用来指一套可以由逻辑学或类似课程所提供的具体思维技能和方法,也用来指一种思维方式和思维习惯。发现和清理逻辑悖论既需要使用和遵循批判性思维的具体方法,也需要具备批判性思维的方式和习惯。由于逻辑悖论是一种特殊的逻辑矛盾,对它们的清理往往会促成相关理论的重大创新,从而体现批判性思维与创造性思维的关联。解悖式思维是批判性思维的一种极致表现,引导这样一种思维方式既有助于批判性思维技能和方法的训练,也有助于批判性思维方式与人生态度的培育。     

Are There Domain–Specific Thinking Skills?

Adopting a much broader notion of thinking than that associated with the Critical Thinking movement, this paper addresses the question of thinking skill generality. An analysis of the concept of 'thinking skill' suggests ways in which this notion has been misapplied. The paper demonstrates the importance of thinking tasks and argues for a non–universalistic notion of thinking skill generality. The domains–view of thinking is assessed, evidence from secondary research being used to show that thinking skills are not domain–specific simply by virtue of being instantiated with disciplinary content. The prevalence of general procedural knowledge in our thinking practices notwithstanding, empirical evidence suggests the existence of at least two kinds of domain–specific thinking skills: those in which thinking is essentially the application of domain–specific declarative knowledge; and those addressing specialised, domain–specific, thinking tasks.     

The constructivist classroom learning environment and its associations with critical thinking ability of secondary school students in Liberal Studies

In this study, we investigated-secondary school students’ perceptions of their constructivist learning environment in Liberal Studies, and whether their perceptions were related to their critical thinking ability. A convenience sample of Secondary Three students (N = 967) studying Liberal Studies in Hong Kong participated in this research by completing a self-administered questionnaire which included the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES), Cornell Critical Thinking Test Level X, and demographic information on age and gender. Students perceived their learning environment to be moderately constructivist in nature. Both age and school banding differences were identified in that younger students and students in band 1 schools tended to perceive a higher degree of constructivist characteristics in their learning environment. Multiple regression analyses indicated that three of the five scales of CLES were predictors of critical thinking ability. Shared Control was the strongest predictor and negatively associated with critical thinking ability, while Personal Relevance and Critical Voice were positively related to critical thinking ability. Findings of the study are discussed with reference to developing students’ critical thinking ability in Liberal Studies classrooms.     

异步在线交流中促进学生批判性思维的提问模型构建

文章基于对Paul批判性思维模型及其在线学习模型的改进,构建了一个用于异步在线交流的提问交互模型,以促进网络社区中学习者批判性思维的发展。该模型在批判性思维教学方面的有效性已经得到初步证实。     

基于SIOP模式的大学英语教学对本科生批判性思维影响的实证研究

SIOP模式是“语言学习与应用能力相结合”､“学科知识与思维发展相结合”的教学模式,它为语言知识的学习和思维能力的培养提供了可行性途径。本研究以语言类课程——大学英语为依托,选取某省属 重点大学一年级157名学生,分为实验班和控制班,分别采用 SIOP 模式和传统模式教学。一学年之后,两班 前后测结果说明,SIOP 教学模式对大学英语学习者批判性思维能力的提升具有积极的促进作用。该研究结果对 SIOP 教学模式的本土化应用以及我国本科生批判性思维的培养具有一定的启示和参考价值。     

The disposition toward critical thinking of high school and university science students: an interintra Israeli-Italian Study

The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) was used to assess the disposition of Israeli and Italian high school and university science students toward critical thinking. The study sought to establish base-lines for these groups as well as quantifying the differences between two national populations. Significant differences between the Israeli and Italian high school science students in the total score and those of five subscales of the CCTDI have been found, the largest on the OpenMindedness and Self-Confidence subscales. The overall scores of high school and university science students on the CCTDI in both countries were essentially the same, with quite a similar pattern in the corresponding disposition profiles. Although the CCTDI can be reliably used for establishing base-line differences between science student populations, the effect of a specific approach to teaching (e.g. HOCS-orientation vs traditional) on the stability or change of this aspect of critical thinking remains an open question.     

以读为本,强化作文的思维训练

以课文为依据,以读为本,读透课文,运用高中语文课文材料,培养学生的想象能力、求同思维能力、求异思维能力,运用思维规律达到培养学生创造性思维的目标,从而提高作文的立意质量。     

“Seminar课程”的研究与实践报告——以《批判性思维》课程为例

研讨课的本质在于让学生学会批判性的思维,开启新的认知与实践,专门的“批判性思维”课程更好地体现了研讨课的这一本质。通过对批判性思维的全面探索和深入考察可以更好地把握研讨课的目标及要求。本文为《Seminar课程的研究与实践报告》的研究报告,主要阐述了该课题的研究背景、意义、主要内容、方法,总结了研究的主要结论,重点探讨了批判性思维课程中存在的问题与对策。     

Exploring the structure of the Watson–Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal: One scale or many subscales?

Critical thinking (CT) has been of longstanding interest among scholars, educators, and others who are concerned with thinking skills. The Watson–Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) is the oldest and among the most widely used and studied CT measure. It was constructed around five subscales (or CT skills): inference, recognition of assumptions, deduction, interpretation, and evaluation of arguments. This paper describes a two part analysis of the psychometric properties of the WGCTA, based on 13 sets of subscale inter-correlations and 60 sets of subscale means retrieved from published studies. We performed a meta-analysis on the inter-correlations of the10 combinations of subscales and found that all of the average correlations that resulted were significant, but that all but one was significantly heterogeneous. Subsequently, we conducted principal components analysis on 60 subscale means of two different versions of the WGCTA. Each produced a one-factor solution, accounting for 82.69% and 79.55% of the total variance, respectively. Together these two parts of this study suggest that the WGCTA should be viewed as a measure of general competency, and that the subscales should not be interpreted individually.     

The Disposition of Eleventh-Grade Science Students Toward Critical Thinking

The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) was used to assess the disposition of Israeli eleventh-grade science students toward critical thinking according to school type affiliate, scientific level, and gender. Our findings, strongly support (a) the establishment of a baseline reference for disposition toward critical thinking of high school science students; (b) the application of the CCTDI in the context of ongoing science education in different settings; and finally (c) the reliable use of the CCTDI in future research aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of critical thinking (CT) and higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS) oriented instructional goals.     

Developing critical thinking skills in computer-aided extended reading classes

One of the skills that can be taught in an English proficiency class that adopts literary texts for teaching the language is critical thinking. The background, characters and their motives are among those that invite critical inquiry and interpretation. Although it has been claimed that discussing literary texts in the traditional way can help develop students’ critical thinking skills, it is yet to be proved whether the use of a teaching aid can help the process. This study is, therefore, carried out to see if the use of computer software can help to develop such skills. It specifically looks at the potential of a literary text, Othello, and a concordancer in developing and enhancing critical thinking abilities of 40 English as a Second Language (ESL) students at the International Islamic University Malaysia. An experimental study was carried out, where an experimental group was exposed to text analysis using a concordancer whilst the control group analysed the text manually. The Cornell Critical Thinking Test was used to analyse the critical thinking ability of the students. The experimental group outperformed the control group in all the subscales measured, but the percentage of variance in the scores was low.     

论批判性思维训练与问题解决教学的有效结合

批判性思维作为一种重要的思维技能,与问题解决过程有着十分紧密的联系。批判性思维对问题表征、问题空间搜索以及发现新问题都有着举足轻重的作用,而问题解决过程也恰是训练批判性思维的有效途径。为此,应当从多方面创造条件,以实现问题解决与批判性思维的有效结合,并进一步深入研究批判性思维训练与问题解决教学的结合机制与措施。     

Fostering critical thinking: Features of powerful learning environments

Critical thinking is a recurrent educational ambition. At the same time, it is not self-evident how that ambition can be realised. This is partly due to the different perspectives from which Critical Thinking can be approached. The literature on critical thinking is extensive and diverse, different meanings and aspects of critical thinking have been explored. However, there is agreement among several researchers that critical thinking entails both ability and attitudinal components. Research in psychology on different types of cognitive processing has similarly pointed to the importance of both skills and attitudes. This article builds on a tripartite notion of disposition that has been proposed in the context of education. The tripartite dispositional perspective on which we elaborate highlights the importance of ability, inclination and sensitivity. We describe and discuss an educational protocol aligned with the tripartite conceptualisation of disposition. The protocol identifies characteristics of powerful learning environments. We propose that the proposed educational protocol—aligned to Critical Thinking education goals, conditions and interventions—can be used for fostering critical thinking. More specifically, the use of four types of interventions are recommended: (1) modelling, (2) inducing, (3) declaring and (4) surveillance. Finally, we underscore that there is a need for further research on the use of the educational protocol.     

“双一流”建设高校大学生批判性思维能力评价的实证研究

批判性思维培养对大学生的创新精神和创造力发展具有十分重要的作用,而对批判性思维能力的评价是培养过程中的一个重要环节。通过采用"加利福尼亚批判性思维倾向测量表"和"加利福尼亚批判性思维技能测试"对一所"双一流"建设高校不同年级学生进行批判性思维能力的调查评价,发现学生广泛具有良好甚至较强的批判性思维技能,但有超过26%的受调查学生不具备批判性思维倾向或气质。因此,建设"双一流"高校在培养大学生批判性思维能力,尤其是批判性思维倾向方面还有较大的提升空间。据此提出培养大学生批判性思维能力的策略和建议。     

论批判性思维训练的途径及其问题

批判性思维无论是对繁杂信息的把握还是创新都是不可或缺的,要提高学生的创新能力首先应提升其批判性思维能力;批判性思维能力可以通过训练得到提高,批判性思维培养包括两方面内容:批判性思维技能和批判性思维者的人格特质。批判性思维训练包括两个取向,一是技能取向,二是意识取向;批判性思维教学在当前我国教育环境下还面临着诸多急需解决的困难和问题。     

思辨能力培养与英语写作创新教学模式

英语专业学生的"思辨缺席症"的原因主要体现在学习目标不清、教学方法的误导和知识面狭窄等方面,思辨能力的培养能有效改善英语专业学生的"思辨缺席症"。从设置真实写作任务、注重同伴反馈与讨论和建立写作手册等方面阐述如何培养学生的思辨能力。培养学生的分析能力、思辨能力和解决问题的能力,从而提高英语写作水平。     

英国的思维教育及对我国的启示

越来越多的国家意识到教授思维技能的重要性。2000年英国以培养学生进行有效思维和学习为出发点，正式将思维教育纳入国家课程，将培养思维能力渗秀到普通课程中，建立了思维教育课堂教学模式，该工体现了建构主义的学习理念，启示我们应以学生为中心，以培养思维技能，团体协作精神和自我管理能力为主要目的，构建课堂教学模式，使学生在课堂情境中学会学习，学会思考。