Thinking-based Learning (TBL)

Since I were small, I always felt down as I thought that I am/was not a creative person. When I joined a group task of inventing something for Science subject, I would always be the last person that came out with ideas and usually my ideas were not as superb as my group mates. But then, to cut the story short, I realized that  it is not impossible for every one of us to be creative. The turning point was from my Curriculum Design class taught by Dr Razak, where he taughts us the steps in invention anything for the purpose of survival, for example, creating scissors for the left-handed person. Among the method that I strongly remember is SCAMPER which also called as creativity tool. SCAMPER stands for substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put into other use, eliminate & rearrange. BY undergoing SCAMPER, it is possible for someone to be creative and able to invent one new product!!

Throughout teaching and learning, we always involved with thinking process. Our government also has a thinking model in education known as KBKK, means creative and critical thinking skills (see figure below). Thinking based Learning (TBL) is a teaching method that infuses instruction on skillful thinking is infused into content instruction. A teacher who plan to use TBL approach in his/ her teaching and learning session will need to choose at least one thinking skills listed in KBKK.  TBL is implemented based on a guidance in which teachers require 3 items to be prepared that are 
(1) Thinking Strategy Map (TSM)
(2) Graphic Oragnizer (Thinking Template). Example: i-think map
(3) Habit of Mind (HOM) (select one)

Ministry of Education

As mentioned earlier, creativity can be developed by a SCAMPER guidance and so do the thinking skills. In fact, the creativity is of course related to thinking as to develop creativity we need to think😎For each thinking skill listed, it has its own thinking template that guides the user to develop the thinking while infusing it with the content knowledge which eventually strengthening the concept of that content. 

Frankly, I never practiced TBL in my teaching. It is really interesting to be implemented but it might be quite challenging for teachers to decide which thinking skill is suitable for particular topic of content. Then, the 3 items that  must come together in the plan which require teachers to decide and again it is time consuming. Teachers need to revise thoroughly the whole chapter to think of the suitable TBL approach. Yes, we did the revision but I think for TBL we need to spend extra time for the lesson plan. However, I believed that if students are always exposed to this kind of learning, as time passes by they will get used of it and make it as a practice. Students and teachers who successfully applying TBL basically will have a very strong content knowledge.

Compare & Contract TSM

From my own experience of applying Compare and Contrast thinking template (see above diagram, we spend a lot of time to complete the task for just one subcontent. Thus personally i think it is possible to conduct lesson with PBL once in a while but it quite impossible to be done of every lesson in a week due to the time constraint. Moreover, in matriculation, we have the syllabus that is usually best fit the schedule, yet sometimes we are running out of time to finish the syllabus due to public holidays. Some adjustment maybe can be done by education ministry if we seriuosly intend to gradually integrate TBL into our lesson at all schools and colleges.

Thank You.

Ummi Atiah
MEd Physics
UPSI

~ May it Benefits You ➽💕