Implementing and Evaluating Critical Thinking Skills Developing Lesson Plans for Prospective Teachers

In this study, a technology-supported teaching module was designed to support the advancement of critical thinking as determined by Facione (1990). The lesson plans of the designed teaching module were applied to future mathematics teachers in primary schools. In the study, worksheets constitute teaching model applications lesson plans and it is aimed to evaluate the statements of the pre-service teachers on the worksheets regarding solutions, suggestions and results within the framework of critical thinking skills. During the fall term of the 2019-2020 educational year, we carried out the research study with fourth-graders enrolled at the Faculty of Education, Primary Mathematics Education of a state university in the Marmara Region in Turkey for one semester. This study utilized a case study design, also known as qualitative research. Worksheets that constitute the designed lesson plans served as instruments for collecting data. Using descriptive analysis and content analysis, we analyzed the answers provided by prospective teachers on the worksheets. The previous study concluded that the designed lesson plans were compatible with the critical thinking sub-skills determined by Facione, and contributed to the critical thinking skills of future teachers.