The Effect of Learning in a Scientific and Technological Reserve Program on High-Order Thinking among 11th Graders who Learn Mathematics for Advanced Level (5 points)

Amal Sharif-Rasslan and Laila Shaheen

High-order thinking is reflected in mathematics in a variety of skills: posing questions, arithmetic, research questions, hypotheses, sorting, comparing, identifying relationships, raising a variety of points of view, critical thinking, choosing from several options, drawing conclusions, making decisions, solving verbal problems and more. Imparting these skills can serve as a good basis for data research and the development of higher order thinking.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of learning in a scientific and technological reserve program on high order thinking among 11th graders who studied mathematics for 5 points. The reserve program is one of the programs adopted by the Ministry of Education to increase the percentage of 5 pointers in high schools. In particular, the study aimed to examine the characteristics of the mathematical ability of those students. About 69 students participated in the study (36 students from a scientific and technological reserve framework and 33 regular-class students).

The research tool was a test that contains nine mathematical problems that require high order thinking to solve them. The problems were selected from a pool of problems that are recommended by the Ministry of Education in Israel.

The main research findings show statistical differences between scientific reserve students and regular framework students for the benefit of reserve students. The findings ensure that the mathematical ability of scientific reserve students to use higher-order thinking skills is better than that of regular-frame students.

The conclusions of the study indicate that innovation in educational institutions, requires innovative educators. Teachers need to create innovations that support the development of HOTS in the teaching and learning process. The scientific reserve program has provided these skills to both students and teachers.