Starting kids on critical thinking
MALAYSIA’S educational policy has gone through big changes in the past few years. One such change is the Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah (KSSR) syllabus.
This syllabus replaced the Kurikulum Bersepadu Sekolah Rendah (KBSR) in the primary school system in 2011.
The KSSR focuses more on teaching “Higher-Order Thinking Skills” (HOTS) than “Lower-Order Thinking Skills” (LOTS).
While LOTS has led students to memorise concepts, HOTS has trained them to synthesise and analyse information and knowledge to solve problems and make decisions.
Students need to be equipped with HOTS for the later stages of their lives after schooling.
Eye Level is an enrichment programme developed by Daekyo, a leading educational service provider that was founded in 1976 in South Korea.
Helping students become problem-solvers, critical thinkers and lifelong learners, Eye Level has come up with a robust curriculum based on research and serves as a model throughout the world.
The Eye Level curriculum helps students learn both LOTS and HOTS and apply these skills in and out of school.
Eye Level Math trains students to use LOTS and HOTS throughout its 32 levels.
First, students master Basic Thinking Math (BTM) by practicing addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
They then learn Critical Thinking Math (CTM) dealing with situation-based questions.
To understand the basic mathematical concepts of BTM, students need to use LOTS. On the other hand, to apply such basic concepts in CTM, they should develop HOTS.
Eye-Level English first helps students develop LOTS. To develop these skills, they follow instructions to learn basic language skills through phonics and oral fluency exercises.
After gaining a basic level of competency in English, students continue to follow guided instructions to develop HOTS.
At this level, they practice reading and writing. To improve their reading comprehension, students learn to analyse a variety of texts, including literary works.
In this way, they feel more comfortable dealing with cognitively challenging questions and ideas.
By carrying out linguistic and cognitive exercises that are systematically organised through 14 levels, students gradually become more proficient in English.
Training students to develop both LOTS and HOTS, Eye Level English not only helps them in school but it also lays a strong foundation for their future careers.
This encourages them to be competitive when they become professionals. As KSSR emphasises HOTS, students are encouraged to practise these skills in school.
Schools will then have to change their methodology of teaching and evaluation.
To develop HOTS, students need to become more independent, confident and active in learning, organising and using knowledge and skills.
This idea is compatible with Self-Directed Learning (SDL), primary approach of Eye Level. Throughout the SDL process, students learn to take initiative and responsibility. Such behaviour is closely linked to HOTS rather than to LOTS.
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