Engaging biology students in critical thinking skills and self-assessment strategies on Student Learning Space

Singapore youths are spending an average screen time of 35 hours per week (DQ Institute, 2018). In an attempt to engage them, we tapped on their passions and connect to their world through the use of Student Learning Space (SLS).

By leveraging on thinking routines (Ritchart et al., 2011), students are given platforms to apply their knowledge on nutrients in a new authentic context. During this online lesson, students take on roles of different practitioners to unpack and assess the situation of malnutrition among Singapore elderly. To further promote critical thinking, students also perform self-assessment and evaluation of their own work with the use of a modified NEIU’s General Education Critical Thinking Rubric (2005).

This session will focus the use of critical thinking skills and self-assessment strategies in a Lower Secondary Science (Biology) Home-based Learning session. Participants will get a hands-on experience with the lesson activity, and take away ideas that can be applicable in other subjects and discipline.