The effect of Scaffolding on Improving Critical Analytical thinking skill:Acquisition in Biology for grade 10 students

النوع : Mémoire

Scaffolding is a learning strategy which improves the acquisition of critical thinking skills. The purpose of this study is to test the effect of the scaffolding strategy used in teaching biology, on improving understanding and acquisition of critical analytical thinking skills. The study is held with two sections of first secondary class students in Al Allama Abdullah El Alayli Official High School, where section C is considered as a control group and section B is considered as an experimental group. In this action research, the data collection technique employed was pre-and post-tests, to examine students’ critical analytical skill acquisition. The intervention, scaffolding teaching strategy, was applied to one section, section B. Pre-tests and post-tests were done to both sections. The students of both sections were observed and examined by tests before and after the intervention. Data obtained from the tests were analyzed by using SPSS 16.0 program. A paired samples t-test revealed a statistically reliable difference between the mean average of critical analytical thinking elements for section B students in the pre-test (M=0.3804, s=0.05638) and that in the post-test (M=1.1522, s=0.05610). These results indicated that the use of the scaffolding strategy in teaching biology increases significantly the understanding and acquisition of the critical analytical thinking skills of students.