| Summary: | Thesis (MTech (Education))--Peninsula Technikon, Cape Town, 2004. === The purpose of this research was to investigate the
practices, understanding and application of critical thinking
in the lives of learners, educators and parents. The research
was conducted in the grade seven classes of three schools in
the Western Cape. These schools are representative of the
demography of the Western Cape.
Initial questionnaires were sent to parents of the grade
seven learners in this study to determine whether the home
environment encourages critical thinking and whether or not
the parents practice critical thinking in their home and
personal lives. An interview was conducted with the
8 teachers of each grade seven class at the three schools, to
determine their understanding of critical thinking, whether
they use critical thinking in their personal capacity, and
whether they nurture and teach critical thinking.
Each learner completed a questionnaire to determine his or
her knowledge and understanding of critical thinking, prior
to teaching and learning interventions. The interventions
occurred through a series of teaching/learning activities,
and participative action research to facilitate the learning,
understanding and application of critical thinking. Data was
obtained from observation throughout intervention as well
as from a final questionnaire at the end of the teaching/
learning activities. The data collected was analysed and the results and
recommendations form part of this thesis. The results
clearly indicated that it is possible to foster critical hoped that teachers' awareness of the need to teach and
foster critical thinking in the classroom was aroused by this
intervention.
thinking through teaching and learning interventions. It also
became evident that the influence of learners' home life
plays a major role in children's thinking practices. It is hoped that teachers' awareness of the need to teach and
foster critical thinking in the classroom was aroused by this intervention. === Peninsula Technikon
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