Sample interview questions: How do you support students’ development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills in science?
Sample answer:
Strategies to Support Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Skills in Science
1. Problem-Based Learning:
- Engage students in authentic, real-world problems that require them to apply scientific knowledge and skills.
- Provide scaffolding and guidance, gradually releasing responsibility for problem-solving.
- Encourage collaboration and peer support to foster diverse perspectives and ideas.
2. Inquiry-Based Instruction:
- Guide students through structured inquiry processes, such as the 5E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate).
- Encourage students to generate questions, conduct investigations, analyze data, and draw conclusions.
- Support student autonomy and foster a culture of questioning and exploration.
3. Higher-Order Thinking Questions:
- Pose open-ended, thought-provoking questions that require students to apply, analyze, evaluate, and create scientific information.
- Use Bloom’s Taxonomy as a framework to scaffold questioning and encourage deeper thinking.
- Provide opportunities for students to explain their reasoning and support their claims with evidence.
4. Argumentation and Debate:
- Engage students in scientific debates and discussions where they present and defend their ideas.
- Teach students argumentation skills, such as evidence-based reasoning and counterclaim analysis.
- Foster a respectful and open envir… Read full answer