Malaysia Ministry of Education has put critical thinking skills elements into one of the six aspirations that pupils need to achieve. This was a turning point that teaching methods should be transformed. Therefore, innovation of teaching methods needs to be done. One of the strategies suggested is adventure-based learning (ABL). The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of ABL methods in the teaching of Basic Statistics on critical thinking skills. This study uses a quantitative approach with quasi experimental pre and post design. Only one group of students is formed. The study was based on the cluster sampling method and involving the semester two students of the Preparation Programme of Teaching Bachelor (PPTB). Instruments used are modules of adventure-based teaching methods and critical thinking skills tests. The findings of this study are to prove that this adventure-based learning can be used as an alternative method to assist the lecturers of the Teacher Education Institute to produce credible graduates. It helps lecturers apply the 21st century learning method in their teaching and learning.

Learning strategies using Socio-Scientific Issues (SSI) are approaches that will meet the characteristics of 21 st Century Skills (K-21) and upgrade the Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS). One of the reasons of the unfavorable TIMMS and PISA results in Malaysia because students' incompetent to answer science reasoning question based on scientific issues that occur in their daily lives. SSI is a dimension that is used in the assessment of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) and Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) which consists of the issue of the environment, medicine, health and genetic engineering. The purpose of this study is to assess the scientific reasoning level of Form Four science students in the biology subject based on SSI. Quantitative approaches surveys have been used in this study. The SSI instruments used were adapted. Total of 450 Form Four science students are samples used in this study. Findings revealed the needs of students should be discovered to levels of SSI reasoning approach because the results have shown that students' accomplishment are still low or medium level. In addition, students are incompetent to relate the concepts of science and socio-scientific issues. In conclusion, the potential of SSI approach introduced in the research and development process to enable students to master the concept of science, achieve the objectives of learning in the biology and upgrade the Higher Order Thinking. One of the implication of this research is to facilitate policy makers in implementing Biological Education Excellence in Malaysia through the development of model of Scientific Reasoning Skills.

This study was carried out to uncover the pedagogical gaps by characterizing the teaching practices of chemistry within a teacher education institution and subsequently, identifying the prevalent, non-prevalent and unobserved teaching practices. Accordingly, this implementation study employed the classroom observation method. The one-semester implementation of 11 chemistry lessons of a university lecturer was observed using a psychometrically-validated observation checklist comprises 50 items or indicators that measure six principles (dimensions). The use of the observation checklist entails checking whether each indicator is observed or otherwise during classroom observations. With a frequency of more than 25% to be considered prevalent, the findings indicate that the lecturer prevalently “maintained a scaffolding of instructional alignment” (62.5%), “offered quality learning environments, resources, and technology” (57.1%), and “promoted positive beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral patterns” (54.5%). However, it was a non-prevalent practice in “encouraging intellectual curiosity” (8.3%), and “promoting an atmosphere of critical thinking and inquiry” (14.3%). The practice of “offering a varied learning atmosphere” was, regrettably, non-existent (0%). The pedagogical gaps uncovered are discussed in terms of the needed customized staff development on teaching and learning in teacher education, particularly the content coverage of pedagogy (or teaching models), and the pedagogical coverage of pedagogy.

No abstract