Analysing the Correlations between Primary School Teachers’ Teaching Styles and Their Critical Thinking Disposition

Özgür Şen

doi:10.11114/jets.v6i1.2790

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the correlations between teaching styles primary school teachers prefer to use and their critical thinking disposition. The research was conducted with the participation of 380 primary school teachers teaching in schools located in Ankara. The study employs relational survey model. In this study “Teaching Styles Inventory” was used to determine the teaching styles preferences of primary school teachers and in order to define their critical thinking dispositions the scale of “Critical Thinking Disposition” was used. Descriptive statistic one way variance analysis (ANOVA) was used in the analysis of the data. It was found in conclusion that the teaching style the participating teachers preferred most was delegator-facilitator-expert style of teaching. Besides, significant correlations were found between primary school teachers’ preference of teaching styles and their critical thinking disposition.

Highlights

Our need for education, conditions and varied expectations of the society constantly change due to economic and technological factors
In foreign literature, Quitadama (2002), investigating the effects of differing combinations of teaching styles on university students’ critical thinking dispositions, states that teaching styles bring about positive changes in students’ critical thinking performance. This current study aims to determine the teaching styles primary school teachers choose to employ and to investigate whether or not there are any significant correlations between teaching styles and critical thinking dispositions
A close examination of table 4 shows that the averages for the sub-scales of expert, facilitator and delegator are high whereas the averages for the sub-scales of formal authority and personal model are medium

Summary

Introduction

Our need for education, conditions and varied expectations of the society constantly change due to economic and technological factors. Being fast and prolific has become compulsory in order to adapt to those changing circumstances, to meet the needs of present day and to catch up with the time. Considering the fact that one of the most important components of education is education at school, it cannot be denied that teachers have great responsibility. One of the elements playing a great part in shaping students is obviously teachers. Teachers’ behaviours, attitudes and approaches are very important for children to draw their road map of their future life. It important for teachers to be aware of their teaching styles and to know about the limitations and superiorities of teaching style they prefer and to make the teaching process efficient (Evin-Gencel, 2013)

Objectives

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Conclusion