Lesson 7: IT for Higher Thinking Skills and Creativity

The old or traditional methods of teaching make use of audio-visual

aids or devices, chalk and black board for illustrations, magazines and books
for references, which are always provided by the teacher. The students are
given specific projects to perform and assignments have definite objectives.
Sometimes the old method is called spoon-feeding with the teacher giving
guidelines all throughout the lessons being taught.
Now in the new era of modern technology, students are encouraged to
develop their own ideas and ways on how to gather information needed for their
subjects in school. Their creativity is developed and intellectual independence
is nurtured when they are given the leeway to produce projects and reports
using the software of the computer.
The traditional information absorption model of teaching is that the
teacher is the one who organizes and presents information to student-learners.
He/she may use the chalkboard, videotape, newspaper or magazine and
photos. Then the presentation is followed by a discussion and the giving of
assignment. But a new challenge has arisen for todays learners and this is not
simply to achieve learning objectives but to encourage the development of
students who can do more than receive, recite and apply the knowledge they
have acquired. Today, students are expected not only to be mentally excellent,
but also flexible, analytical and creative.
Higher Level Learning Outcomes
To define higher thinking skills and creativity,we may adopt framework
that is helpful synthesis of many models and definitions of the subject matter.

The framework is not exhaustive but a helpful guide for the teachers
effort to understand the learners higher learning skills.
THINKING SKILLS FRAMEWORK
Complex Thinking Skills
Focusing

Information gathering

Sub-skills
Defining the problem, goal/objectivesetting, brainstorming
Selection,

recording

of

data

of

information

Remembering

Associating, relating new data with old

Analyzing

Identifying idea constructs, patterns

Generating

Deducing, inducting, elaborating

Organizing

Classifying, relating

Imagining

Visualizing, predicting

Designing

Planning, formulating

Integration

Summarizing, abstracting

Evaluating

Setting criteria, testing idea, verifying

outcomes, revising

The Upgraded Project Method

Given these complex thinking skills, the modern day teacher can now be
guided on his goal to help student achieve higher level thinking skills and
creativity beyond the ordinary benchmark of the students passing, even

excelling achievement tests. When the ordinary classrooms are lacking with
instructional kits, use the project method to bring students to higher domains.
In a project method, students work on projects with depth complexity,
duration, and relevance to the real world. There is already a revised project
method wherein the students would make decisions about what to put on the
project, how to organize information and how to package the outcomes for
presentation while the teacher guides and facilitates the learning process.

Project Method
Teachers assign the students to work on projects with depth,
complexity

duration

and

relevance

to

the

real

word.

Project is utilized because students need to make the most of the

decisions about what to put inside their project, how to organize their
information and ideas and how to communicate their result effectively.
Types of Project:

Constructive project- Pupils work physically in or outside the class like

writing letters, essays on given topics, preparing fields for games, playing

drama etc.
Aesthetic project- Appreciation powers of students are developed.
Problematic project- Students learn solutions of life- related problems.
Drill project- Working capabilities and automation of students are
increased.

Steps Involved in Project Method:

3

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Creating situation
Selection of the project
Planning
Execution
Evaluation
Reporting

Upgraded/Revised Project Method

In here, there is a tighter link between the uses of projects for simply
coming up with products to have the students undergo the process of higher
thinking skills under the framework of the Constructivist Paradigm.
In this new project method, the students are advised to use computer
application and high technology in doing their projects.
Constructivist Paradigm
It emphasizes on how the students construct knowledge. The students,
not the teacher are the ones who make decisions about what to put into their
project, how to organize information, how to package the outcomes for
presentation and the like.
In doing projects, there are two things that are involved: the process
and the product.
Process- refers to the steps, effort and experiences in project completion.
Product- is the result or the end point of the process.

References:
BOOK:
Lucido, Paz P. 2007. Educational Technology (Selection, Production and
Utilization of Appropriate Technology Tools for Instruction. Lorimar
Publishing, Inc.
INTERNET:
http://documents.mx/documents/the-upgraded-project-method.html
http://www.slideshare.net/mischelle21/lesson-7-31966146?related=3