Problem Solving Activity to Raise Students’ Critical Thinking

Hi educators,
Today, I would like to share you about a video that I have reviewed for educational purposes. The video is reviewed to see how the teacher in the classroom promotes Autonomous Learning model (ALM). You can Access this video through following link : Lesson Observation: Tim Bedley Critical Thinking : Part I

Lesson Observation: Tim Bedley Critical Thinking :Part II
Lesson Observation: Tim Bedley Critical Thinking :Part III

This Lesson Observation videos are recorded by Tim Bradley. The activity practiced in the classroom is Problem Solving Activity to raise students’ critical thinking. The students have to create teams to collaborate together in order to solve the problem. At the time he starts the class, he used Whole Brain Teaching Technique to control the class. As the result, the class atmosphere looks so impressive since the students pay intention to the teacher’s instruction. This technique is designed to maximize student engagement and to focus on the way of brain that is really designed to learn. There are several steps or procedure applied in running the class activities.

The first is modifying instructional plans to adjust for students needs in which he explains the students’ needs of reaching consensus. The second is establishing and articulating goals for students learning by stimulating them to produce oral expression in discussion with their friends. Then, engage students in problem solving and critical thinking by cooperating in a team, discussing, and taking role. Before students start discussing, he explains how to establish and communicate learning goal for students, as well as to plan and implement classroom procedure and routines that support students learning autonomy in their teams to solve problem and take responsibility.

When team discussion starts, it looks so impressive that every student engages in activity. This activity promotes social development and group responsibility. Also, a position of time keeper is employed in solving the problem in discussion to make students think critically and responsible of the allocation of time. Various intructional strategies and resources are used to respond students’ diverse needs. After discussin session finished, he intructs them to score the level of their group responsibility and to say their perception of the styles of this model of learning.

Overall, the teacher has promoted Autonomos Learning Model (ALM) in the classroom in which the characteristics of this model were found in activities such as being resposible, critical thinking, creativity, problem solving and student engagement.
After I watched the video, I think that the teacher should give the students chances to determine places of learning such as outdoor activities, and types of learning activities that are relevant with the topic of learning. Those activities are needed to promote autonomous learning in real life context. Additionally, the teacher should look forward to having strategies to monitor the applying of autonomous learning.

Regards,
ALFYD, English Language Teacher
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