Are we producing thinking students ?

This week, I am going to touch on the topic of "Thinking".

In one of the lectures on "Thinking School,Learning Nation", the lecturer, who teaches us on the topic of Leadership, shared a very interesting story about himself .

The story triggered some thoughts in me. It goes something like this......

This lecturer , I will call him "PT".

PT was relating his undergraduate experience in Cambridge University when he was studying Maths there. At Cambridge,the lecturer did not spoon-feed the students, they were expected to read up a lot on their own and to find out information for themselves after every lecture.

One day, he went to tutorial ( his tutorial group only consisted of himself and another British counter
part).

The tutor, a British Professor turned to him and asked, " Now, PT, tell me, how did you derive the answer? Which theorem did you use ? What causes you to make the decision to use the theorem?"

Obviously the Singaporean student could not answer.

"What theorem ? Lecture never teach what ? Can you tell me which textbook to refer to ?"

Then came the frown from the Prof's face.

He then turned to the British Student and asked him the same sets of questions. The British Student began to explain to the Prof how he derived the answer, which theorem he used and why he chose the theorem. Despite his best intention, he still got the answer wrong.

There came the Prof's reply -

" It is a good try even if you are in error."

Now this short story sets me thinking. Often in our classes when we teach, how many of us are actually concern about the process ( getting pupils to articulate their thoughts) rather than making sure that they get the answers right at the first instance?

How many of us (in the name of rushing syllabus) allow time and space for pupils to make visible their thought processes and coming in to correct those misconceptions ?

                     ( Source : http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/writing/purpose-of-author-blogging/)

One of the tenets of the school vision is "Curious Minds", as I begin to ponder on the story. I ask myself - how can we drive curiosity in our pupils ?

Can we in our design of our lessons and programmes factor in opportunities for pupils to articulate their though processes?

Can we encourage / train them to ask good questions ?

But you may say-" Thomas, it is impossible, this is Singapore not Cambridge ! They are still young...and besides they are too "inexperienced to ask questions. "

Well, my reply would be this -"Precisely, we have to do something."

"If not now, then when ?"