Critical Thinking in a Higher Education Functional English Course
Critical thinking is seen as a highly desirable way of thinking that needs to be encouraged in all areas of higher education. However, it is not.
- Pub. date: January 15, 2017
- Pages: 59-67
- 890 Downloads
- 1765 Views
- 5 Citations
Critical thinking is seen as a highly desirable way of thinking that needs to be encouraged in all areas of higher education. However, it is not easy to conceptualise critical thinking in ways that can help in its development and in its assessment. Recent policy documents in Pakistan have laid emphasis on the development of critical thinking skills in higher education and The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan worked with USAID to publish new course guidance for Functional English, a mandatory course, as a part of introducing a revised four year BEd honours programme. The course includes aims like giving reasons to justify a view, distinguishing between fact and opinion and enabling students to develop argumentation skills. All these aims require students to develop skills involving questioning: asking questions of what is provided, who has provided it and what its meaning might be, key features of critical thinking.
Keywords: Critical thinking, higher education, English course
5
References
Abu Gado, S. M. and Nowfal, M. B. (2007). Teaching thinking theory and practice, Jordan Amman: Daralmisrh Publishing and Distribution.
Akbar, R. A., Akhtar, M., Hussain, A., and Abiodullah, M. (2013). Beliefs and Practices of Teacher Educators Teaching B.Ed (Hons) and ADE in Universities and Affiliated Colleges in Punjab, a paper presented at the Education Conference on Teacher Recruitment, Preparation, and Policy held at University of Karachi, Pakistan on August 20-21, 2013.
Al-Atoom, A. (2004). Cognitive Psychology: Theory and Practical Training, Amman, Jordan: Al-dar Al-Massira.
Ali, A.A. and Reid, N. (2012) Understanding Mathematics Some Key Factors, European Journal of Educational Research, 1(3), 283-299.
Almadani, K., Reid, N. and Rodrigues, S. (2011) Quality Assurance: a Pressing Problem for education in the 21st century, Problems of Education in the 21st century, 32, 9-22
Almadani, K., Reid, N. and Rodrigues, S. (2012). What examinations test, Problems of Education in the 21st century, 1(1), 6-19.
Al-Osaimi, K.H., Reid, N., and Rodrigues, S. (2014). Critical Thinking - Can it be Measured? Journal of Science Education, 15(1), 30-36.
Al-Osaimi, K.H., Reid, N., and Rodrigues, S. (2015). Critical Thinking - Can it be Developed? Journal of Science Education, 15(2), 57-75.
Buskist, W. and Irons G.J. (2008). Simple strategies for teaching your students to think critically. In D. S. Dunn, J. S. Halonen, and R. A. Smith(Ed), Teaching Critical Thinking in Psychology: A H and book of Best Practices (pp.49 -57). UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Cassum, S. H., Profetto-McGrath, J., Gul, R. B., Ashraf, D., and Kauser, S. (2013). Multidimensionality of critical thinking: A holistic perspective from multidisciplinary educators in Karachi, Pakistan, Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 3(7), 9-23.
Chamot, A. (1995). Creating a community of thinkers in the ESL/EFL classroom, TESOL Matters, 5(5), 1-16.
Chapple, L., and Curtis, A. (2000). Content-based instruction in Hong Kong: Student responses to film, System, 28, 419-433.
Coles, M.J. and Robinson, W.D. (1991). Teaching Thinking: What is it? Is it Possible? In M.J. Coles and W.D. Robinson (eds.) (1991) Teaching Thinking. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press
Davidson, B. (1994). Critical thinking: A perspective and prescriptions for language teachers, The Language Teacher, 18(4), 20-26.
DiYanni, R. (2016). Critical and Creative Thinking: A Brief Guide for Teachers, Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley and Sons.
Facione, P.A. (1990). Critical Thinking: A Statement of Expert Consensus for Purposes of Educational Assessment and Instruction, ‘The Delphi Report’, The California Academic Press, California.
Facione, P. A. (2000). The disposition toward critical thinking: Its character, measurement, and relation to critical thinking skill, Informal Logic, 20(1), 61–84.
Government of Pakistan (2002). Task Force on Improvement of Higher Education in Pakistan, Islamabad.
Government of Pakistan (2009). HEC medium term development framework II, 2010-2105, hec.gov.pk/InsideHEC/Documents/MTDF%202011-15%20FINAL.pdf
Habib, M. A. (1996). Thinking: Theoretical Foundation and Strategy, Cairo: Arabic Renaissance Library.
HEC (undated). Pakistan Qualification Framework, Higher Education Islamabad. Levels and Learning outcomes of Higher Education Commission, page 3-4. (www.hec.gov.pk)
HEC (2012). Functional English I, Course Guide, Associate Degree in Education/BEd (Hons) Elementary, Higher Education Commission, Islamabad.
Hindal, H., Reid, N. and Whitehead, R. (2013). A Fresh Look at High Ability, International Journal of Instruction, 6(1), 59-76.
Hoodbhoy, P. (2009). Pakistan’s Higher Education System—What Went Wrong and How to Fix It, The Pakistan Development Review, 48(4 Part II), 581– 594.
Jerwan, F. (2009). Teaching Thinking: Conception and Application, Amman, Jordan: Dar Alfiker.
Likert, R. (1932) A technique for the measurement of attitudes, Archives of Psychology, 140, 5–55.
Mahmood, M. K., Iqbal, M., Naseem, Z., Khan, J. I., and Afzal, S. (2013). Pedagogical Practices of Teacher Educators in Bachelors of Education (B. Ed) Honors and Associate Degree in Education (ADE) Programs, a paper presented at the Education Conference on Teacher Recruitment, Preparation, and Policy held at University of Karachi Pakistan on August 20-21, 2013.
Manan S.A, Mehmood T. (2015). Culture and Critical Thinking in Classroom: Narratives from University Students in Pakistan, Asia Pacific Journal of Social Science, 1(3), 110-134.
Nunan, D., (1987). Communicative language teaching: Making it work. ELT journal, 41(2), 136-145.
Osgood, C. E., Suci, C. J. And Tannenbaum, P. H. (1957). The measurement of meaning (Urbana, IL, University of Illinois Press).
Paul, R. (1990). Critical Thinking: What Every Person Needs to Survive in a Rapidly Changing World, Rohnert Park, CA: Center for Critical Thinking and Moral Critique.
Reid, N. (2015). Attitude Research in Science Education, in I.M. Saleh and M.S. Khine, eds., Attitude Research in Science Education, 2nd edition, pages 3-44, Charlotte NC: Information Age Publishing Inc.
Saeed T., Khan S., Ahmed A., Gul R, Cassum S., and Parpio Y. (2012). Development of students’ critical thinking: The educators’ ability to use questioning skills in the baccalaureate programmes in nursing in Pakistan, Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 62(3), 200-203.
Sheikh, M. A., Chohan, B. I., Jawad, A., and Naseem, M., (2013). An Exploratory Study of Assessment Practices in the B.Ed. (Honors) and ADE Programs in the Punjab, a paper presented at the Education Conference on Teacher Recruitment, Preparation, and Policy held at University of Karachi Pakistan on August 20-21, 2013.
Tarvin, W., and Al-Arishi, A. (1991). Rethinking communicative language teaching: Reflection and the EFL classroom, TESOL Quarterly, 25(1), 9-27.
World Bank (2006). A Millennium Learning Goal: Measuring Real Progress in Education, compiled by Deon Filmer, Amer Hasan and Lant Pritchett, Centre for Global Development, World Bank.