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This research was conducted to see if using ChatGPT prompts students to think more deeply through reflection reports. The case study method and qualitative research methodology were used to carry out this study. Five graduate students in the Curriculum and Instruction department at Aksaray University's Social Sciences Institute who were teachers in various subjects and employed at various state school levels participated in the study. It was found that the majority of participants accepted all of the information presented by ChatGPT based on a citation as true, did not feel the need to control data reliability, and could be manipulated by ChatGPT while doing self-evaluation. Additionally, despite the fact that they prepared reflective reports in which they compared their essays with ChatGPT and included questions that prompted them to think critically and reflectively, as well as the fact that they had taken a graduate-level course on the teaching of higher order thinking skills, it was acknowledged that they could not demonstrate the expected performance in using higher order thinking skills other than to a limited extent. The onus should be on educators to pioneer positive examples of how to utilize ChatGPT and provide direction on how to harness its potential, supported by critical thinking, rather than to avoid using it and identify it as a tool to be avoided.

Designed by the Harvard University Project Zero team, Artful Thinking is basically a program that aims to improve students' awareness of art and increase their critical thinking skills by interpreting works of art and discussing them. In this way, students will acquire twenty-first century skills such as critical thinking and aesthetic understanding. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the impact of the Artful Thinking program on the development of critical thinking skills and attitudes towards art in 6th grade students, by implementing it as action research. This study was conducted in a middle school in Gaziantep, Turkey. 23 students and a Turkish teacher participated in the study. A total of twenty-four works of art (paintings, graffiti and ancient mosaics) were shown to students over eight weeks. Students expressed their opinions about each picture for 10-15 minutes. In order to make the students think in higher-order about art, the teacher asked questions prepared by the researcher. Thus, students were enabled to develop critical and higher order thoughts about the paintings. The findings from the students, teacher, and researcher indicated that the Artful Thinking program had a favorable impact on the students' perceptions of art, and that the students' cognitive abilities and capacity for articulation were enhanced by this program.

For students to be able to compete and overcome challenges in the future, critical thinking is essential. The study's descriptive methodology aims to describe the students' critical thinking abilities. Every high school in a South Sulawesi district made up the research population. Based on school accreditation, with the use of a proportionate stratified random sampling technique, 150 students were chosen to comprise the research sample. The test instrument used is an essay distributed online. The indicators for the description questions are interpretation, analysis, and interpretation thinking skills. According to the study's findings, students' critical thinking abilities in static fluid material have an average score in the medium category of 73.09. In terms of school accreditation, students' physics critical thinking abilities average 73.87 for schools with A accreditation, 72.43 for schools with B accreditation, and 68.47 for schools with C accreditation. The percentage of each indicator of critical thinking skills is 34.58 in inference, 33.70 in analysis, and 31.71 in interpretation. It is anticipated that this study will give a broad picture of students' critical thinking competencies for teachers to choose and implement the most suitable stimulus to aid students in developing their critical thinking abilities.

Are high school students ready for their postgraduate education or a career that may not have been invented yet? As teachers focus on career prep and the necessary future-ready skills in the classroom, teachers are using technology to hone skills necessary for students' future success. Success in higher education or career pursuits requires students to develop a combination of technology through student-centered, project-based learning around the 4Cs (critical thinking/problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity/innovation). The literature on technology skills and 4C skills has historically focused on one set of skills or the other in isolation. This research addresses this gap in the literature by comparing the acquisition of the two skill sets to each other in the same (1:1 technology) environment. This is a mixed methods study using survey data collected from pre-service teachers in an education course. The study aims to understand what technology and 4C skills pre-service teachers who graduated from a 1:1 technology high school possess. The findings of this study showed that the respondents are more prepared and comfortable using their 4C skills than their technology skills. The potential implications of technology and 4C skills deficiencies and strengths on future teaching practices are discussed. technology) environment.

Social studies have been marginalized in early childhood education amid the prevalence of standardized testing and political issues. However, a comprehensive approach to early education, including social studies, is gaining attention. This article emphasizes the significance of incorporating social studies into early childhood curriculum, illuminating its potential to enhance children's cognitive and social-emotional development. The second important aspect of this article focuses on the role of social studies in literacy skill development through building background knowledge, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills of young children.

The burgeoning role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education prompts crucial discussions regarding its implications for teaching and learning. This qualitative study probes the argumentative perspectives of 118 teacher candidates from Igdir University on the integration of AI into educational practices. Employing Toulmin's (1958) model, we analyzed their arguments, which encompass claims, evidence, warrants, backings, rebuttals, and conclusions, to ascertain their stance on AI's pedagogical integration. Utilizing four distinct AI chatbots--GPT-4, Gemini AI, Claude 3 Haiku, and Mistral AI--the research deciphers thematic undercurrents within these dimensions. Moreover, a novel methodological contribution is made through 'negative space exploration', focusing on the unmentioned themes to identify latent biases and assumptions in the argumentation. The study's dual analytical approach, combining AI-driven theme identification and negative space exploration, resulted in an enriched understanding of the content. Key findings suggest a nuanced perception among participants: while AI chatbots are acknowledged for enhancing educational efficiency and enabling personalized learning, concerns regarding diminished human interaction, potential erosion of critical thinking skills, and ethical use persist. The analyses also highlight the need for a balanced AI implementation that supports, not supplants, traditional educational methods. This research contributes to the ongoing debate on effective AI integration in education and calls for responsible pedagogical adoption of AI technologies.

Children's picturebooks present meaningful opportunities for thinking through life's important questions. In this article, the authors outline the process and benefits of using picturebooks to support philosophical inquiry amongst preschool and elementary aged children. We discuss how philosophical inquiry can promote critical thinking in children, considerations in the use of culturally responsive and abolitionist feminist curriculum and pedagogy in teaching philosophy, and we highlight the utility of multiple stakeholder collaboration for successful philosophical inquiry projects in schools. The article closes by discussing key recommendations for the implementation of philosophical inquiry programs in preschool and elementary schools.

This study aimed to i) analyse learning problems in science at boarding schools for junior high school students and ii) determine the effectiveness of science learning in the context of Islamic teachings using the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, -religion (STEM-R) approach to improve reflective and critical thinking skills. The research method applied in this study was a sequential exploratory mixed method. The research design consisted of five stages: i) qualitative data gathering, ii) qualitative data analysis, iii) quantitative data gathering, iv) quantitative data analysis, and v) data interpretation. The subjects of this study were 192 students from boarding schools and were divided into 6 groups. The research results obtained were the school, parents, science teachers and religion teachers' vision and mission causing students to like or dislike science. An excellent teacher is viewed by students as someone who can make learning enjoyable, exhibit creativity in presenting educational material, possess the ability to motivate, link science and religion, engage in investigative activities, infuse humour, establish connections between science and everyday life, and communicate concepts effectively. Moreover, distinctions in reflective thinking and critical thinking abilities were observed between the experimental group and the control group. Learning that connects science and Islamic religion and examines STEM-R aspects is able to develop students' thinking skills.

This research aimed to assess the readiness of Indonesian pre-service science teachers by examining their perceptions of impending challenges, desired competencies, and anticipated instructional methodologies in preparing for the challenges of Society 5.0. Using a quantitative survey research methodology, 884 pre-service science teachers from 16 universities were surveyed. The research instrument's validity and reliability were assessed utilizing the Rasch model. Inferential statistics were employed to assess the readiness of pre-service science teachers for future challenges, taking into account their backgrounds. The test outcomes showed the Cronbach's Alpha coefficient reached 0.92, is deemed "excellent", affirming the instrument's high reliability. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of teachers share a consistent perception of future challenges and recognize the importance of mastering 21st-century skills, particularly critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, and collaboration. However, respondents believe that the current learning process does not adequately train these skills. They expressed a desire for an alternative learning method that can enhance their skills while accommodating their diverse backgrounds, including place of residence, economic background, and technological proficiency. Further research is needed to identify alternative teaching methods that can effectively foster these abilities in diverse backgrounds.

Convinced of the major advantages and effectiveness of an interdisciplinary approach in teaching, colleagues from American Studies, Economics, and Greek Studies offered a joint seminar for master's degree students on "Individual Goals and the Common Good: Perspectives on Utility Concepts from Ancient Greek Literature, American Studies, and Economics." We intended to expose the students to a new approach to significant texts and authors that address these key economic concepts and to integrate the perspectives from the three disciplines. In this essay, we describe the development of our methodological approach, the individual and common goals that guided us, the challenges that we encountered, and the extent to which we achieved our goals.

Yulin Normal University preschool education major existing children's game course instructional model more in passing test knowledge and practice test skills, students used to passively accept knowledge, rarely use critical thinking to treat knowledge, with a critical eye to question, thinking, and discovery, long-term students will not be able to adapt to the needs of the new era of social development of survival ability and professional competitiveness. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (1) to study the factors affecting the development of critical thinking ability, (2) to develop an instructional model based on experiential learning theory and six thinking hats, and (3) to compare the critical thinking ability of Third Year college students before and after the instructional model of experiential learning theory and six thinking hats. The sample group was 30 students from preschool education majors at Yulin Normal University. The research was conducted in three steps: studying the factors that affect the development of critical thinking ability, developing the instructional model, and the experimental and improvement process. The research instruments were a questionnaire about factors that affect the development of critical thinking ability, an interview form about factors that affect the development of college students' critical thinking ability, an observation form about student behavior, an interview form about opinions on teaching, lesson plans, and a critical thinking ability test. The study's results were 1) the main factors affecting the development of critical thinking ability include the instructional environment, the teachers, and the students, respectively, 2) the instructional model based on experiential learning theory and six thinking hats was developed consisting of four core components: a) principles, b) objectives, c) learning process, and d) results, and 3) after the implementation of the instructional model based on experiential learning theory and six thinking hats, the critical thinking ability scores of the students were higher than the critical thinking ability of the students before the experiment, with a statistical significance of 0.01 level. Finally, this paper strives to develop a based on Experiential Learning Theory and Six Thinking Hats instructional model to improve the critical thinking of preschool education students at Yulin Normal University.

A new reading curriculum incorporating the principles of concept-based instruction and reading strategy instruction was designed and implemented for a previous study. Concept-based instruction was compared with reading strategy instruction to determine the impact of the new curriculum on language learners' reading and reflective thinking skills. The data revealed that the concept-based group performed better in reflective reading and thinking skills. The new curriculum involves the creation of a Schema of a Complete Orienting Basis of an Action (SCOBA) during reflection sessions. To explore the necessity of SCOBA creation, an experimental study with two groups was conducted, where only one group created a SCOBA. Both groups received concept-based reading instruction and were compared based on their reading, reflective reading, and reflective thinking skills. The data revealed that the groups performed similarly in reading and reflective reading skills, but the SCOBA group performed better in reflective thinking skills. The study sheds light on the importance of incorporating reflective thinking activities, such as SCOBA creation, in concept-based reading instruction.

This study introduces a novel learning management model aimed at enhancing Thai language proficiency in sixth-grade students. Confronting challenges such as inadequate teaching resources and a lack of student-centric, practical activities in current Thai language education, this model integrates six key components: foundational principles and theories, clear objectives, diverse learning processes, social systems, responsive teaching, and supportive resources. The approach emphasizes student engagement, self-directed learning, critical thinking, and applicability in real-life situations. Employing a rigorous research and development (R&D) methodology, the study involved analyzing existing educational conditions, developing the instructional model, assessing its impact, and seeking expert validation. The model demonstrated substantial improvements in students' knowledge, skills, and attributes, as evidenced by the effectiveness index (E.I.) and expert assessments. These evaluations confirmed the model's suitability, practicality, and beneficial impact on language proficiency. The results indicate that integrating self-directed learning, experiential activities, and collaborative techniques significantly enhances language skills. The study underscores the need for adaptive learning strategies, varied instructional media, and comprehensive assessment methods. The model's success in improving national test scores showcases its potential applicability and effectiveness in diverse educational settings. This research contributes a validated, effective framework for Thai language teaching, highlighting experiential learning, social collaboration, and the integration of ICT. Its successful application in Thai educational contexts suggests its potential for broader adoption in primary language education globally.

The research explores the potential of incorporating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education approach and critical thinking to enhance historical consciousness. The study employs an ex post facto quantitative method, specifically a correlational design to analyse the variables. The research population comprises 425 students from diverse backgrounds in Banten Province schools that have implemented the STEM approach. A sample size of 202 students is determined using a predefined error rate. Data collection involves tests and questionnaires assessing historical thinking skills, STEM approaches, and historical consciousness. Statistical analysis, including partial and simultaneous multiple correlation tests, reveals a significant and very strong positive relationship between STEM approach, historical thinking skills, and historical consciousness. This suggests that the interplay of these factors enhances history learning and encourages a deeper understanding of historical events, promoting critical thinking, and historical consciousness. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating STEM methodologies into history education to provide students with a holistic understanding of historical events and their societal implications. Such an approach bridges the gap between STEM and history, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and promoting informed and empathetic citizens. Future research should explore diverse samples, employ qualitative methods, and investigate curriculum designs and teaching strategies that effectively integrate STEM and history education.

Student's critical thinking skills that are currently still low are important to develop because they affect the way students think in solving problems. The problem-based learning model with the inquiry method used to help improve student's critical thinking skills. The iSpring learning media used can help students understand the material. The research results were obtained from the output of the paired sample t-test, a significance value < 0.05, so it was concluded that there was a difference between before applying the learning model and after applying the learning model. The results of the questionnaire responses to the media also resulted in positive responses from students.

The research reported on in this article was mainly undertaken to determine the obstacles to the enhancement of critical thinking in the learning of history at Form 3 level in secondary schools in the Masvingo urban area of Zimbabwe, in terms of the rationale of developing the learners' critical thinking. The promotion of critical thinking abilities is vital in education, since doing so helps to improve the learners' academic performance, as well as aiding in producing graduates with a multiplicity of skills that are required in the 21st century job market and in society as a whole. We used semi-structured interviews and lesson observations to reach conclusions on what recommendations to make in addressing the research problem. Several factors were identified as hindering the learners' acquisition of critical thinking, including the learners' and teachers' lack of self-efficacy, motivation and the poor learning environment. In addition to reflecting on the possibility of improving the learning and teaching of critical thinking, we recommend that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Zimbabwe's Schools Examination Council, teacher training colleges and teachers should all work together to develop the learners' critical thinking skills within the parameters of the Zimbabwean education system.

Reasoning for complexity is a fundamental competency in these complex times for solutions to social problems and decision-making. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the eComplexity instrument by presenting its psychometric properties. The instrument consists of a Likert-type scale questionnaire designed to measure college students' perceptions of their mastery levels of complex reasoning competency as well as the subcompetencies that comprise it. The instrument was applied to higher education students in different countries of Latin America and Spain. The questionnaire articulates four types of thinking: systemic, scientific, critical and innovative and consists of 25 items. The methodology used was instrumental and psychometric, which seeks to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the eComplexity questionnaire. The results obtained from the research were as follows: The exploratory factor analysis indicated a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index (KMO) > 0.80, a significance of p< 0.05 and a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.93. Likewise, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis was carried out and was possible to corroborate the internal structure validity of the instrument. In addition to Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, McDonald's Omega, and Guttman's Lambda coefficients were calculated to calculate reliability. With the results obtained it was possible to conclude that the instrument is valid and reliable, can be used in various university contexts to support integrated training necessary to address current challenges and contribute to educational research. It is recommended for future studies that the research can be expanded by using an instrument that can move from perceptual terms to measuring levels of complex reasoning mastery, but it is valuable to contrast with the students' perception to have a broader vision.

Generic competency development activities (GCDAs) help students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, innovation, creativity, communication and social skills. This study evaluated students' acceptance of a machine learning-assisted recommendation system (MARS) developed to recommend GCDAs for students in a higher education institution. This study adopted a quantitative approach to evaluate the higher education students' perceived usefulness of MARS based on a new appropriate model derived from three widely used models related to technology adoption and leisure activities. In August 2023, the participants of orientation for freshmen were invited to complete an online questionnaire after they tried MARS. 351 valid responses were analyzed using multiple regression. The results revealed that the students positively perceive accepting MARS as a useful tool for choosing GCDAs and indicated the students' perceptions were affected more by their programs of study, career development and personal interests than by social influence and facilitating conditions on their selection of GCDAs. These findings based on the new model provide implications for the implementation of education technology for generic competency development.

It can be difficult to align with the present theoretical change in education from teacher-centered to student-centered learning especially in high-power distance cultures like Malaysia that are communal. This study aims to investigate the perceptions of students and lecturers regarding the psychosocial barriers to promoting self-directed and autonomous learning in the Malaysian context. The qualitative research method was chosen based on the research questions. Qualitative research allows the researcher to understand people's beliefs, attitudes, perceptions and behaviors. This study used purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen students and four lecturers at a Malaysian public university. The study found two types of challenges: personal (within the student) and environmental (surrounding the student). Personal obstacles include ideas about the value of education such as an emphasis on grades and diplomas as well as attitudes towards life, such as a propensity for hedonism and a need for spoon-feeding. Environmental barriers include a lack of encouragement for critical thinking, the development of student dependency, issues with university regulations, family and lecturers' attitudes and teaching methods. These challenges were explained using Hofstede's, self-determination and ARCS theories. The study highlights how important it is for teachers to modify their pedagogical approaches and attitudes in order to encourage student-centered learning as well as how important it is for students to get more assistance and support.

The objective of this research is to develop a model for life skills training through the strengthening of academic, personal, social, and career competencies for middle school students. We designed this model to equip students with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of life's challenges. Design-Based Research (DBR) serves as a research methodology, encompassing four stages: identification and analysis of practical problems, solution design, iterative testing cycles and solution refinement, reflection, and producing the final design. Validation testing of the model was conducted with four experts, including one developmental guidance and counseling specialist, one developmental psychologist, one adolescent psychologist, one curriculum and learning specialist, and eight guidance and counseling teachers or practitioners. The results of expert and practitioner validation indicate that the life skills training model is worthy of further experimentation to develop student's life skills. Recommendations for future research emphasize the importance of developing new skills or competencies for the younger generation and educators to address the challenges and dynamics of the digital era. Globalization and societal shifts toward digitally automated services underscore the need for teacher preparation in imparting life skills that not only adhere to conventional norms but also integrate technological skills into student education.

This study examines the role of epistemological beliefs in moderating the relationship between critical and creative thinking among science teachers. It aims to explore how advancements in understanding knowledge influence these cognitive skills. The primary focus is on the extent to which epistemological beliefs impact critical and creative thinking, highlighting the need for a deeper grasp of knowledge to foster these skills. A mixed-methods approach is used, combining qualitative and quantitative data within a pragmatic framework to provide a comprehensive view. The sample includes science teachers from Selçuklu, Meram, and Karatay districts in Konya, Türkiye. Quantitative data were gathered using the Epistemological Beliefs Scale, the Critical Thinking Scale, and the Creative Thinking Scale. Results show that epistemological beliefs significantly influence critical and creative thinking, suggesting that these skills are closely tied to epistemological development. Qualitative findings support this, indicating that a solid epistemological foundation is essential for both types of thinking. Additionally, the study finds that authoritarian teaching methods suppress critical thinking, while student-centered strategies enhance it. To promote critical and creative thinking, science teachers should develop their epistemological beliefs and create an environment that encourages open discussion and diverse perspectives.

Need in Deed's work with Philadelphia public school teachers and their students centers empathy, informed investigation, and civic action. Bolstered by these values and with the support of the My Voice framework and dedicated Need in Deed staff, educators are equipped to co-create authentic classroom communities with their students. In Need in Deed classrooms, students feel a sense of belonging, are supported in taking academic risks, and understand their agency as change makers. In this piece, Need in Deed staff and teachers give an overview of the My Voice framework and share stories from Need in Deed classrooms that highlight Dr. Gholdy Muhammad's five pursuits of culturally and historically responsive teaching - identity, skills, intellectualism, criticality, and joy.

This article examines the ways in which interdisciplinary small groups were used in a school setting in order to drive students' "joyful engagement and" literacy instruction. Drawing from the work of Dr. Gholdy Muhammad in "Cultivating Genius" (2020) and "Unearthing Joy" (2023) we designed and implemented a summer program built around bolstering foundational literacy skills, with an intentional focus on helping students experience joy and making each and every child feel special. In keeping true to the work of Dr. Muhammad, we designed learning opportunities to develop students' intellect, skills, and criticality, and grounded those competencies in their identity. The program design--including structured small groups, texts chosen to empower and resonate with our specific population of students, multiple opportunities to connect with the same texts--fostered an experience in which students were immersed in literacy in an authentic and meaningful way. Throughout this article we discuss how we implemented this work with rising first through third graders in a collaborative effort with the Netter Center and Penn GSE and share teacher feedback as well as student data.

This article addresses the challenges and importance of integrating discussions on race and social justice into the classroom. Considering recent legislative actions in various states aimed at restricting such discussions, the article presents an empowering framework designed to support educators in facilitating these conversations. This framework, rooted in culturally responsive pedagogy, offers practical tools and guiding questions to help teachers create an environment that encourages inquiry and exploration of racial complexities without imposing personal viewpoints. The framework aims to move beyond simply identifying disparities to examining systems of oppression and encouraging students to take action. Feedback from teachers who implemented this framework shows significant improvements in their comfort and proficiency in discussing racial issues with students, instilling a sense of confidence and capability. The article also highlights the importance of self-reflection and continuous learning for teachers to lead these conversations effectively. It underscores the need for educators to develop strategies that allow students to engage critically with racial topics and employ counter-narratives to challenge discriminatory rhetoric. In conclusion, the article calls for a concerted effort in teacher education to counteract the resistance to racial equity discussions.

This study investigates the integration of global citizenship education (GCED) within the Christian worldview, focusing on youth education in the post-pandemic era. It underscores the necessity of GCED in addressing pandemic-exacerbated challenges and aligns its objectives with Christian values through scriptural exploration. Core competencies like empathy, ethical reasoning, and global awareness are examined from a Christian perspective, alongside practical applications in educational settings the post-pandemic. The study concludes with reflections on the potential impact and challenges of incorporating Christian perspectives into GCED, advocating for inclusive and diverse educational approaches in a post-pandemic world.

The purpose of the case study was to understand the use of technology, particularly AI, for public middle school teachers in Michigan for critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. The theory that guided this study was the constructivist theory. The constructivist learning theory involves people learning from their experiences and prior background knowledge. Consistent with the case study, the focus was on using AI in the classroom to engage learners and create criical thinkers and problem solvers for 21st-century skills. This qualitative study primarily sought to investigate educators' views regarding students' critical thinking abilities and assess how educators use artificial intelligence in the classroom to facilitate student opportunities to participate in problem-solving activities. The qualitative case collected data from middle school educators and gained insight into experiences with technology, particularly AI, in the classroom. Data collection consisted of observations and interviews. The analysis used triangulation to determine themes and reveal if AI correlates in the classroom with instruction to create critical thinking skills and authentic experiences. The results from the study included a minimal amount of AI in the middle school setting, participants not being comfortable with how to implement AI in the educational setting, and students not progressing adequately in critical thinking.

In today's knowledge-based and rapidly changing society, developing students' critical thinking skills in instruction is a vital concern in almost all science curricula. To acquire meaningful learning, learners need to develop skills in choosing suitable information, gauging the integrity of information, and crafting sound decisions. With this, creating learning spaces that stimulate critical thinking has become a challenge among educators. This study aims to explore the critical thinking profile of Filipino students in science laboratory classes as a means of generating insight for possible curricular enhancement. Utilizing a quantitative descriptive research design, a survey was administered to 300 junior high school students under K to 12 curricula. Results revealed that openness to different ideas is the most practiced aspect of critical thinking among Filipino students, while the planning and organization of information disclosed as the least. Furthermore, the importance of gathering information to support position is the most agreed factor, while the strategies in thinking of a problem in an experiment are the least. Hence, findings suggest that the necessary facets of critical thinking strategies should be explicitly articulated in the science curriculum framework, especially encapsulating it in the content and performance standards.

Various similar primary studies report varying impacts of applying blended problem-based learning (Blended PBL) in improving students' 21st-century skills. This study aims to group similar studies on the effect of blended PBL on students' 21st-century skills in science learning through meta-analysis. In addition, studies were analyzed on variations in models, education levels, subjects, and 4C skills. There are 44 articles worth analyzing. The data was analyzed using Excel and JASP applications by presenting results in size effect values, forest plots, and published bias tests. The results of the analysis show that science learning with blended PBL improves 21st-century skills that are better at science learning than other learning (g = 0.617, 95% Cl 0.296-0.937, p < 0.001, I[superscript 2] = 96.861%). Analysis of moderator variables showed that in the variation model, level of education, subjects, and 4C skills, there was a significant effect. These findings confirm that blended PBL is efficiently used to train students' 21st-century skills in science learning.

Flipped learning has become the focus in many educational contexts especially with the integration of technological tools in learning space for the last decade. In flipped learning, learners perform surface learning at home, whereas deep learning such as problem-solving, critical thinking exercises etc. is covered in the classroom which potentially increases motivation and satisfaction of learners. Cognitive load, the assumed load of the working memory caused by the processing of tasks, has also attracted attention in online learning settings which pose different processing demands. This study took place in the extraordinary settings of education during the COVID-19 pandemic which required online education for all education levels. A fourth-year course of an ELT program was delivered through a flipped learning approach during online education. Learners' motivation, use of learning strategies, satisfaction and cognitive load levels were calculated at the end of the intervention and their perceptions regarding the experience were investigated through an open-ended questionnaire. The results showed that their motivation and satisfaction levels were quite high as well as their strategy uses whereas cognitive load levels were comparatively low. Inferential statistics showed that relationships exist between and among the motivation, learning strategies and cognitive load at various levels. Motivation emerged to be a significant predictor of course satisfaction whereas time spent for the flipped lectures predicted course achievement. Learners' perceptions of flipped learning process were generally positive while they also articulated some drawbacks of it like instructional tools-related and individual learner-related problems.

Good concept mastery through critical thinking using various approaches, models, strategies, and methods of learning German is essential for the Education 4.0 era. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the concept mastery and critical thinking skills of German language students at Pattimura University using collaborative learning that combines Schneeball-Wirbelgruppe learning. A one-group pretest-posttest design with a sample of 13 second-semester students in the academic year 2019/2020 was used. Furthermore, an essay test was used as an instrument while the data was analyzed using descriptive methods (N-gain test) and inferential methods (paired t-test). The descriptive analysis showed that the concept mastery and critical thinking skills of students were in the high and moderate categories. The paired t-test results showed a difference between the pretest and posttest using Schneeball-Wirbelgruppe learning model. Therefore, collaborative learning has a positive impact on improving students' concept mastery and critical thinking skills in learning phonology and morphology courses. As for the implications of this research, the Schneeball-Wirbelgruppe learning model is recommended as a learning model that can be applied to other concepts in German language learning.

This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of Pancasila learning with the goal of improving critical thinking skills through the application of the six thinking hats model. The research adopts a descriptive approach utilizing qualitative methods. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta. The participants were selected using purposive techniques based on specific criteria and considerations to ensure the collection of targeted information. Specifically, the research focused on students enrolled in the Manufacturing Engineering Class D. Data collection for this study involved the use of observation, interviews, and documentation techniques. To ensure data validity, triangulation techniques were employed by the researchers. Data analysis followed an interactive model based on the framework developed by Miles and Huberman, encompassing data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The six thinking hats learning model significantly improved students' critical thinking skills and character values. This approach enables students to approach problems from multiple perspectives, becoming more responsive to social issues and navigating real-world challenges. These fosters heightened awareness of societal matters, enabling students to contribute meaningfully to social progress.

In the Philippines, improving pre-service math teachers' critical thinking is receiving increasing attention, emphasizing the importance of tailoring instructional methods to students' learning approaches for a more equitable environment and enhanced mathematics performance. Thus, this study aimed to determine if the critical thinking disposition (CTD) subscales (reflective, attentiveness, open-mindedness, organization, perseverance, and intrinsic motivation) and learning approach (deep approach and surface approach) predict the mathematics performance of pre-service math teachers. This study employed a descriptive-correlational research design to randomly selected 125 pre-service math teachers from Central Luzon, Philippines. The survey instruments are administered through the student-educator negotiated CTDs scale, the revised two-factor study process questionnaire, and the 40-item validated test. Using descriptive analysis, findings revealed that pre-service mathematics teachers have moderate levels of CTD, most of which use a deep approach and have average mathematics performance. Regression analysis showed that CTD and the deep approach were predictors. Therefore, pre-service mathematics teachers with a higher CTD and a deep approach are likelier to perform better in mathematics. These findings provide valuable insights into enhancing mathematics teacher education.

This study aims to develop a science, environment, technology, and society (SETS)-based learning module to enhance critical thinking skills among elementary school students. Employing a research and development (R&D) approach adapting the Borg and Gall model, this module is designed to enrich the learning process of natural and social sciences (IPAS). The research sample involved elementary school students from selected schools, utilizing quantitative methods to measure the module's effectiveness. Validation results showed high scores in content, media, language, and pedagogy, indicating a highly valid module. Practicality tests revealed high practicality from both learners' and educators' perspectives, with average scores above 90. The findings indicate a significant increase in students' critical thinking abilities post-module learning, as measured by pre-test and post-test instruments. Implications of these findings suggest that integrating SETS concepts into IPAS learning can be an effective strategy in enhancing elementary students' critical thinking skills. These findings also offer insights for educational practitioners in designing more interactive and environmentally relevant learning materials.

Considering that fairy tales have long been popular in second language (L2) education, we ask how these texts can remain applicable to our changing student body. In addition to their use in lower-level German classes for language and culture acquisition, fairy tales also provide a springboard into L2 literary interpretation for more advanced students, both at the secondary and postsecondary levels. The authors demonstrate that scaffolding and historical contextualization can enable students to engage in deep cultural and transcultural readings, public presentations, creative re-imaginings, as well as critical analyses. Examples come from two German programs at institutions with different educational goals--one focused on community-engagement, the other on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Both demonstrate how reading seminal tales through a variety of lenses can serve divergent learning goals. In one language program, they form the basis for community-engaged projects that connect learners to L2-speaking communities; in the other, they allow students to imagine social change by learning to recognize deep-seated inequities and critically examine how concepts of gender, race and ableism shape the spaces in which they live. The activities described are also applicable to other languages.

Social interactions, including collaborative problem-solving situations, can trigger critical thinking skills. Giving questions that are not routine can trigger students' critical thinking skills in solving problems collaboratively. This research aims to develop non-routine mathematics problems that can be used to explore students' critical thinking abilities in collaborative problem-solving. The research results show that questions with problem criteria that require justification for the solution provided and questions with a graphical analysis approach can be used to explore students' critical thinking skills in collaborative problem-solving. This is proven by solving the problems; each group member contributed to the solution-finding process. The contribution of each group member shows the high intensity of interaction between members. Interaction in the form of exchanging opinions, giving suggestions, and evaluating each other's ideas or answers significantly impacts students' critical thinking abilities. This is seen by the emergence of several students' critical thinking skills (analysis, synthesis, argumentation, evaluation, self-regulation) triggered by suggestions or ideas put forward by other group members. The research results can be a reference for researchers or practitioners exploring critical thinking skills as a guide in developing research instruments.

Schools need to develop critical thinkers who are learning collaboratively alongside their peers and teachers. With the support of their community, nonacademic values need to be stressed outside the classroom, where students actively engage in social activities to develop their community and increase the value in their education. Combining these two skills and adding the dimension of digital learning and sharing in a global society are critical to meaningful, student-centered learning in education today.

The exposure of educational institutions to rapid and profound changes due to globalization and the transition to the knowledge society emphasizes the cultivation of individuals who develop universal and critical thinking skills through educational transformation. Synergistic management is an approach that has gained increasing importance in educational management in recent years, highlighting its predictive capacity by contributing to the quality of educational activities. Synergistic management practices enable different elements within organizations to come together to achieve more effective results and are strongly associated with organizational culture and learning processes. The learning processes of organizations foster the development and continuity of intellectual knowledge accumulation by creating awareness in the organizational culture memory. Secondary education institutions are of critical importance in completing students' personality development and preparing them for higher education, underscoring the significance of examining teachers' perceptions of synergistic management, organizational culture, and organizational learning for the development of management and leadership strategies in educational institutions. At the end of the study, it was found that organizational learning and organizational culture (r=0.82, p<0.01) had a high level of statistically significant and positively directed relationship with synergistic management (r=0.83, p<0.01). Additionally, a high level of statistically significant and positively directed relationship was also identified between organizational culture and synergistic management (r=0.76, p<0.01). The results of Cohen's f[superscript 2] analysis for the structural model indicated that the statistical effect sizes of synergistic management on organizational culture (f[superscript 2]=3.081) and organizational learning (f[superscript 2]=12.513) were substantial, demonstrating the significance of the relationships in the model.

This study investigated the perceptions of Thai secondary school students regarding the importance of 21st-century skills, specifically focusing on the 4Cs: creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. The study employed survey research using a 68-item online questionnaire via Google Form, which was distributed to 146 ninth-grade students at a school in Thailand during the 2024 academic year. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentages, means, and standard deviations. The findings reveal a strong positive perception of all four 4Cs skills, with over 72% of students recognizing their importance. Communication skills emerged as particularly significant, receiving the highest agreement rating among the 4Cs (M=3.62). This emphasis on communication suggests a potential focus on these skills within secondary education, highlighting the need for continuous development throughout a student's academic journey. Although creativity and critical thinking also received a mean of 3.61, collaboration skills, while still viewed favorably, had a slightly lower agreement mean (M=3.60). This suggests a potential need for further exploration of collaborative learning environments within the school setting. These insights from the findings can inform targeted improvements in educational practices, particularly by developing curricula directed at promoting communication-focused activities and more effective collaborative strategies, to better prepare students for future academic and professional challenges.

Critical thinking is an important part of higher education in Canada, and many education systems worldwide, but not all cultural contexts. Critical thinking enables students to expand their perspectives and better navigate important personal and professional decisions. This narrative inquiry compares Canadian and Iranian international graduate students' perceptions of critical thinking. Through conversations with eight participants, deep and complex transcultural understandings of critical thinking were unearthed. Findings indicate that while Canadian participants can articulate informed viewpoints about critical thinking, some Iranian participants require further knowledge to construct their critical thinking conceptualizations. Results suggest that Canadian higher education needs to consider international students' limited background knowledge of critical thinking and must provide more opportunities to develop critical thinking skills. This study offers insights for higher education policymakers, curriculum developers, and practitioners to consider international and intercultural perspectives to facilitate critical thinking in both international and domestic students.

In 2017, Malawi's Ministry of Education revised the Initial Primary Teacher Education curriculum to enhance education quality, emphasizing critical thinking pedagogies. However, no research has been published on how teacher educators implement these pedagogies and the challenges they face. A qualitative study addressed this gap, involving fourteen Social Sciences teacher educators and Curriculum specialists from four teacher education colleges and the Malawi Institute of Education. Guided by Paulo Freire's Critical Pedagogy Theory and Shulman's Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), data was gathered through document reviews, interviews, and observations. Findings revealed many educators lack understanding of critical thinking's aims and significance, facing challenges due to inadequate training. This results in difficulties incorporating critical thinking, especially in lesson development and conclusions. Assessments predominantly rely on recall questions, failing to promote critical thinking. Poor management of the curriculum's introduction led to ineffective implementation. The study recommends careful planning and adequate training for educators to effectively integrate critical thinking pedagogies.

This quasi-experimental research aimed to describe the syllabus design process using the "backward design model" and its features to determine the teacher candidates' perceptions of its application in the English Skills Development course. To achieve these objectives, the syllabus based on the BDM was designed before starting the course; after that, it was applied to sixteen students enrolled in a teacher preparation program at a Hungarian university in Budapest. At the end of the course, the participants developed sixteen final projects related to the main topic of the course, teaching English as a Foreign Language in Hungary and following the Goal, Role, Audience, Situation, Product, Standard (GRASPS) framework to conduct authentic performance tasks. This research method involves collecting data through written reflections, focus-group interviews and content analysis of the conducted performance tasks. The results show that BDM and authentic performance tasks can be used as a coherent, organized, and flexible syllabus design that supports EFL students by providing differentiated instruction to foster their English skills, creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, long life and autonomous learning, and digital competencies. Furthermore, the results of the study make an essential contribution to the context of EFL by suggesting that planning the syllabus based on the BDM creates strong connections between course objectives, assessment, content, teaching strategies, and technology, thereby offering a practical framework for educators to enhance their teaching practices in the digital age.

Test input has often been taken as a given in test design practice. Nearly all guides for test designers provide extensive coverage of how to design test items but pay little attention to test input. This paper presents the case that test input plays a crucial role in designing tests of soft skills that have rarely been assessed in existing tests. In the process of designing a test of critical thinking, several attempts following existing test design guides resulted in poor tests that did not truly assess the intended objectives. These initial attempts used the norm of short passages as test input. Following these failures, we switched to using real-world input, such as tweets, numerical tables, and spam emails. In doing so, it was found that a particular input type favored a particular sub-skill of critical thinking and a particular item type. For example, using tweets as input enabled the assessment of the Perspective Taking sub-skill of critical thinking. This paper concludes that in designing skill tests, integrating appropriate input is at least as important as item design and calls for reevaluating the functions of test input as a distinct and dynamic element.

The aim of this study is to verify whether the use of a digital tool, designed to promote the use of metacognitive strategies in self-regulated learning, increases the level of critical thinking during the learning process in trainee teachers in official online master's degrees. The Critical Thinking Questionnaire (CPC 2) was used to assess different dimensions of critical thinking in a sample of 225 students from an online university's master's degree in educational technology. The results showed significant improvements in all dimensions (substantive and dialogic) and associated basic skills (reading, writing, and speaking) for those who used the tool for the promotion of metacognitive strategies. Therefore, it is suggested to work on specific strategies to develop critical thinking as a basis for improving their self-regulated learning.