A Comparative Analysis of Models for the Development of Higher Level Thinking Skills: A Textual Analysis of Plato's The Republic and Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives.

Abstract

<p>This project has been developed using a parallel strategy. The first part of this project uses the concept of a model, taken from Ml. Finley's book Ancient History Evidence and Models, as the basis of a philosophical inquiry into the development of higher level thinking skills found in two paradigmatic models: Plato's Republic and Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. The Classification of Educational Goals, Handbook I: Cognitive Domain. In analyzing, synthesizing, amalgamating and adapting some of the elements of these two models, the writer constructs a generic metamodel for the development of higher level thinking skills in students.</p> <p>The second part of this project focusses on the development of 12 teacher-created lessons dealing with the topic of "Thinking About Thinking" for a Grade 8 Advisor class. The writer demonstrates how these lessons were implemented and provides samples of student work. She uses the "Student Development of Higher Level Thinking Skills Survey" as the basis of her interpretations and conclusions about the students' perception of the development of higher level thinking skills and the successes and weaknesses of the unit.</p> <p>The rationale for this project sterns from the writers personal and professional experiences in education and from the writer's belief that there is a need to assist our students to develop higher level thinking skills in order to meet the challenges of the future. There is a need to make education more responsive to the needs of society and to ensure that our students will be able to face the challenges of the Twenty-First Century by being effective problem-solvers and effective thinkers. The project is written primarily for those educators and scholars interested in analyzing models of thinking and in developing models in the classroom to promote the development of higher level thinking skills among students.</p>