Inculcating Thinking Skills among students

Thinking “Thinking is a process by which a new mental representation is formed through

the transformation of information by complex interaction of the mental attributes of judging, abstraction, reasoning, imagining and problem solving.”

By Solso (1997)

“Thinking is a implicit or hidden behaviour involving symbols such as ideas and concepts and images etc.”

By Garrett (1960)

“Thinking is a implicit or hidden behaviour involving symbols such as ideas and concepts and images etc.”

By Mohsin (1967)

Tools of Thinking• Images

Thinking require use of images- Mental picture of actual sensory experiences.

• Symbols and signsThinking also gains economy by making use of both symbols and signs.

Since every symbols is potentially a sign, and every sign potentially a symbols.

• Language Language, because it uses symbols, is the best medium for

thinking.

• ObjectsObjects are the various stimuli present in the environment, the process of

thinking involving series of manipulation of objects.

• ConceptA very important tool of thinking is the concept. A concept is

a “general idea”, an item in thinking that stands for a general class.

• Problem sloving“Problem solving is that process which stars from

cognitive situation and end in achieving desired goal.”By Eyesneck (1972)

Types of Thinking

• Concept Formation

Concepts a re ideas underlying categories for grouping items according to their shared properties

• Autistic ThinkingFantasy making, dreams wishful thinking are examples of

autistic thinking

• Reflective Thinking or Logical ThinkingIt is a somewhat higher type of thinking which has a

definite purpose and is usually aimes to slove a problem.

• Problem SolvingProblem exists when there is a goal to achieve and there is a

barrier.

• ReasoningReasoning, the ability to think logically, is considered one of

the highest form of human thought.

• Critical thinkingCritical thinking consist of examining and testing new ideas

to see whether they will work.

• Concrete thinkingIt is the simplest form of thinking. The basis of this type of

thinking is percepts.

• Abstract thinkingIt is also know as conceptual thinking because it is based on

concepts and concrete thinking.

• Direct thinkingDirect thinking is goal oriented and rational (Gilhooly 1982) i.e it

require a clear, well- defined goal.

• Undirect thinkingWandering thought is called as undirected thinking.

• Convergent thinkingThinking that applies existing knowledge and rules of logic so ad

to reach on a single correct solution.

• Divergent thinkingThinking that moves outside conventional solutions or

knowledge in an effort to develop novel solution to a problem.

• Reproductive thinkingReproduce thinking entails the application of tried and true

paths to a solution.

• Productive thinkingProductive thinking requires insight and creativity

• Creative ThinkingThis type of thinking is mainly aimed to create something

new.

• Delusional thinkingDelusional are false belief, thoughts which are clearly

irrational but they have special significance for an individual.

Way through which teacher can inculcate thinking skills among students

• Give them freedom to ask Curious Question• By playing Puzzle games with them.• By making teaching flexible• Encouraging group discussion in class• Let them to draw what ever they want• Creating a encouraging climate in the class• By giving them chance to generalise the principle

in the real life• Giving them Projective Task

• Developing there interest in reading books and novels

• Building Self trust in them• Make them active listener in the class• Giving rewards to the creative achiever in the

class• Use of teaching Model in the class• Give them freedom to write the answer in their

own words