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PART 1: ANNOTATION (30 MARKS)

Read the following article.
I

Critical thinking skills are important for students to improve their academic
performance. Research suggests that a more in-depth focus on enhancing critical
thinking skills can add academic rigor and increase their scores on assessments
(VanTassel-Baska, Bracken, Feng, & Brown, 2009; McCollister & Sayler, 2010;
Snodgrass, 2011; Tsai, Chen, Chang, & Chang, 2013). By utilising activities to
enhance critical thinking, students are better able to understand why something has
occurred as opposed to just knowing what has occurred. This deeper understanding
allows the students to better analyse the circumstances surrounding the occurrence
and differing viewpoints on the issue (Tsai et al., 2013).

II

Critical thinking can be infused in lessons irrespective of the discipline through in

depth analysis of both data and sources (McCollister & Sayler, 2010). Having
students examine the information forces them to look at the information as a process,
rather than just facts to be memorised. This helps them to develop recognition and
prediction skills, which are an integral part of critical thinking.

Evaluation of

information and sources helps students to learn appropriate procedures for finding
and utilising credible information (McCollister & Sayler, 2010). They added that this
also helps students learn acceptable and appropriate ways to use discretion. These
critical thinking skills will help with reading comprehension and problem-solving,
which play an important role in standardized assessments (VanTassel-Baska et al.,
2009; McCollister & Sayler, 2010; Tsai et al., 2013).
III

Activities based on critical thinking could be worked into the normal class hours,
without requiring additional class time (Snodgrass, 2011). The researcher suggests
that this can be done by simply utilising instructional materials such as online
discussion boards, in-class discussions, or alternative modes of assessment in
classroom settings. It is also important that any changes to the curriculum be met
with training on the new activities and on how to utilise them to their fullest
effect. Professional learning communities allow educators to think critically about the
methods employed in the classroom (Smith & Szymanski, 2013).

IV

It is important for educators to understand that the role they play in developing critical

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thinking is different from the role they play in a typical classroom setting. In order to
engage students in critical thinking, the educators need to act as facilitators to allow
discussions and encourage a freer thought process. This also promotes the
understanding that thinking critically does not always end with a right answer,
instead sometimes ends in more questions (Halx & Reybold, 2005; Arend, 2009).
The educators role as facilitators also encourages a peer review process, and helps
students to learn appropriate responses to conflicting evaluations and opinions
(Henderson-Hurley & Hurley, 2013; Tsai et al., 2013). Activities such as writing
essays and utilising questions that adhere to Blooms Taxonomy higher order thinking
are examples of ways to engage students in critical thinking in the classroom (Smith
& Szymanski, 2013).
V

The development of critical thinking skills is not merely for core subjects such as
reading, math, language arts, science, and social studies. Kokkidou (2013) suggests
that critical thinking can also be developed in music education by examining musical
environment, comparing and contrasting different eras or pieces of music, and selfevaluation of performance. As such educators, regardless of the discipline they are
in, should be able to promote critical thinking skills in their classroom.

2009, Retrieved and adapted from http://www.edarticle.com/articles/43448/theimportance-of-teaching-critical-thinking.php#.VAVceZUcSM8, Ronda Blevins, Journal

of Developmental Education, Vol 27, Issue 1, pgs 36-41

QUESTION 1
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Based on the given article, write an annotation about 250 - 300 words on importance
of including critical thinking skills in classrooms. You are advised to paraphrase
and summarise the information critically.
Your annotation should include the following:

reference
four (4) in-text citations at least
an introduction
five (5) major points
a critical response based on the authors argument
appropriate use of language

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END OF QUESTION PAPER

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