THINKING AND METACOGNITION

THINKING AND METACOGNITION

REFERENCE   BOOKS

1.Fundamentals  of Educational psychology(page no 648-654) -R.A.Sharma

2.Essentials  Educational psychology(page no 378-384)        -S.K.Mangal    .

Sources: http://www.ves.wpsb.org/focus/typesofthinking.html

p://fnopress.com/pedagogy/modules/mod1.htm                                            

 INTRODUTION

·         Thinking is one of the important aspects of one’s cognitive behavior.

·         It is the process or act of thinking especially careful thinking where by the individual seeks solution to some problem.

·         It is a capacity to reason.

·         It is through this power of thinking that the individual develops in himself the capacity to adapt himself to circumstances.

·         It develops through the medium of reason and it is though reason that its form is determined.

·         It occurs in limited and an unlimited form.

·         Thinking for a proper psychological term ‘recollecting’.

·         Scientific inventions and creations are depends up on the cognitive thinking.

  

DEFINITIONS

ü  Thinking is an implicit problem solving behavior.- Mohsin

ü  Thinking is behavior which is often implicit and hidden and in which symbols (images, ideas, concepts)are ordinary employed.- Garrett

ü  Thinking is mental activity in its cognitive aspect or mental activity with regard to psychological objects. - Ross

CHARACTERISTICS OF THINKING

1. Thinking process starts with sensation which is organized in cognition to have the perception.

2. It is always directed towards achieving some purpose. In genuine thinking we cannot let our thoughts wander aimlessly as happens in the case of day dreaming and fantasizing.

3. Thinking is described as a problem solving behavior .Every problem solving behavior is not thinking. It is related only to the inner cognitive behavior.

4. Thinking is a symbolic activity in thinking a mental solution of the problem is carried out though some signs symbols and mental images.

5. In thinking there is mental exploration rather than motor exploration .One has to suspend one’s overt or motor activities while engaging in thinking through some kind of mental exploration or the other.

6. Thinking can shift instantaneously over a span of time and space. The process of thinking and the product of thinking are both actually assessed by what is obtained as a result of thinking. The lines along which individuals think must therefore always be inferred from the way they behave.

HIERARCHY  OF  THINKING

 

1.      perceptual thinking (lowest level)

            In this kind of thinking sensation and perception become operative and in it past experience are brought into play. For example a teacher punishes a student for failing to solve a mathematical question now whenever the student sees that particular teacher he recalls the punishment perceptual thinking is generated out of experience as well as concrete physical material and it is found in animals and children.

     2. Conceptual Thinking

             In this form of thinking the individual takes the help of concepts which are themselves born out the direct perception analysis and classification. The material objects arriving at a conclusion based on experiences and keeping in mind the future constitutes conceptual thinking.

3. logical /Imaginative Thinking

            This kind of thinking lacks direct perception but it is compounded of experiences and facts. The child possesses the power to bring into mind the images of experiences and taking the help of this memory he succeeds in conjuring up thoughts of the future .This is imaginative thinking.

 TOOLS OF   THINKING

1.      percepts:

              It is through the medium of perception that the process of thinking receives its stimulus   For example : if a teacher observe  one  of his student committing theft ,he then makes a study  of  the  student’s  behavior through  his  experience   and  subsequently  takes  steps  to  modify  the  latter’s  behavior  and  eradicate  his  stealing  habit. 

2.      Images

            Very often images are used as an instrument  of  thinking .There are memory images formed though  the  recollection of  past experiences . which  is  determined  through  his  senses  Sensory experiences  i.e  seeing ,hearing ,touch ,taste etc, help in  determining  the  images ,Imagination  helps  in this process  and  it plays  an  important role.

3.      concepts

           A concept is a ‘general idea’ that stands for a general class and represents the common properties of all objects  or events of this general class .It is through  concepts that   thinking  can comprehend  and  subsume  with in  itself  the  past , present  and   the  future .

4.      symbol

            Symbols are presented of given expression through pictures words or object.

5.      Formula

            It economizes time in  thinking when  it  is  done  through  formulae  because  a  small formula  keeps  implicit  within  itself  comprehensive  thoughts  .In mathematics  and  the science thinking   develops  largely  through  formulae.

 Classification  /types of thinking

 

1.      Convergent Thinking  or  Traditional Thinking

            It  is most  common type  of thinking every person  thinks  in general about  the objects  and  phenomenon around  him .This term is used  in  science convergent rays, which  travel from  different  sources   but  converge  at  one point ,shows as follows.

Thinking

Similarly convergent thinking is common men thinking about the objects which therefore is called traditional thinking.

2.      Divergent thinking or creative thinking

            It is most uncommon type of thinking  every person does not think  about the objects around him This term is also used in science Divergent thinking says which travel from one point  towards  different  directions  shows as below. Similarly different persons think differently about the one object It is their original thing.

3.      Non-directed or  Associative  Thinking

            It is essentially directed thinking which pertains to reasoning and problem-solving procedures aimed at meeting specific goals. It is reflected through dreaming, free associations, Delusions day-dreaming and other free-floating uncontrolled activities in psychological language these from of thought are termed as associative thinking

4.      Perceptual Thinking or Concrete Thinking

            It is simple type thinking and the basis of this type of thinking is perception i.e., interpretation of sensation according to one’s experience.

5.      Conceptual  or  Abstract Thinking

            Unlike perceptual thinking this does not require the perception of actual objects or events It is an abstract thinking where one makes use of concepts ,the generalized ideas and language .It is regarded as being superior to perceptual thinking as it economizes efforts in understanding and problem solving.

6.      Reflective thinking

·         It aims at solving complex rather than simple problems.

·         It requires reorganization of all the relevant experiences and the finding on new ways of reading to a situation or of removing and obstacle instead of a simple association or experiences or ideas.

·         Mental activity in reflective thinking does not involve the mechanical trial and error type of efforts. There is an insightful cognitive approach in reflective thinking.

·         It takes all the relevant facts arranged in a logical order into account in order to arrive at a solution of problem in hand.

7.      Scientific thinking

                        It is related to the objects its structure perceptual thinking is also related to concrete objects but does think about its structure .The questions what? Why? How? Are answered with help of scientific thinking.

8.      Inductive and deductive thinking

                        This is commonly used in organizing teaching learning situation in classroom. Inductive and deductive methods of teaching are the most classical methods based on this type of thinking .This type of thinking involved two type of elements-rules or principle and examples or illustrations

            In inductive thinking –several examples are presented which have some common elements this element is identified through inductive thinking.

            In deductive thinking a rule or principle is presented first after that the rule is illustrated with suitable examples

            If a teacher draws different type of triangles and asks students to measure its angles and find the sum total of three angles of each triangle .They find the total of each triangle is equal 180 degree. It may be concluded on the basis of inductive thinking that the sum angles of a triangle is equal to two right angles.

9.      logical Thinking or Imaginative Thinking

                        It is highest form thinking .In this type of thinking the person employs  mental images and various concepts with a definite objective and links them together in a logical order .It relates to future plans .The future  oriented thinking by involving logic and mental images is called logical or imaginative thinking

10.   Unlimited thinking

                        Day –dreaming ,fantasy  and delusions all fall in the category of withdrawal behavior that helps an individual to escape from the demands of the real world by making his thinking free non-directed and floating placing his somewhere or doing something unconnected with his environment

11.  Critical Thinking

This is convergent thinking. It assesses the worth and validity of something existent. It involves precise, persistent, objective analysis. When teachers try to get several learners to think convergent, they try to help them develop common understanding.

ELEVEN INFLUENCING FACTORS OF THINKING

    1. Strong motivation

            In the absence of motivation, strong and systematic thinking is not possible and hence the stronger the motivation for solving a particular problem the stronger will be the thought process for seeking it.

2.Application and interest

                        As soon as a problem presents itself the individual’s interest attention application etc All begin to operate  of their own accord .The sentiment of self –expression or self-exhibition also helps in solving the problem .We work with greater application in solving problems which are closely related to the subjects or fields of activity which interest us

3.Alertness and Flexibility:

                        Alertness and flexibility arouse our annoyance towards dogmatic thoughts and unsuccessful modes of action and make us capable of employing more suitable and novel symbolic techniques in solving our problem. 

     4.Intelligence

                        Intelligence is the prerequisite of thinking .More intelligent people can indulge in thinking with greater success. Foresight and hide sight ,as well as great span of intelligence are of great aid. 

    5.Limitations of time

                       

                        Thinking involves time, since time is spent while the thought process goes on .If a problem is being solved, the time limit available should not be too rigid. When thinking on subjects who do not our interest, the limit of time should not be rigid at all. 

    6.Absence of emotions 

                          Thinking cannot take place in a  state of emotional excitation  for  instance in moments of  heightened  anger, fear  of  love  it  is  not  possible  to  think .Even  if  some thinking  is  done  is such  a  state  it  tends  to  be  prejudiced  rather  than  impartial  and  rational. 

      7.Impact of superstition

                        Pure thinking  must necessarily   be  free  from  the influence  of superstitions ,past experiences and  prejudices .The reason is that prejudices  distort thinking .For instance, we  never perceive the shortcomings  of  an adored  person. 

    8.Knowledge of  language

                        Thinking cannot  evolve  in the  absence of   language because  if a child  does not  know some language ,he cannot give  expression  to  his  thoughts. The development of thinking is  based upon  the  knowledge  of  language 

   9.Concepts

Thinking is  also  impossible  in  the absence  of  concept  formation .A  concept means  complete  knowledge  of  an object  and  the  development  or  growth  of  concepts  takes place through  direct  experience  of  objects.

    10.  Contact  with  society

                         Now a days, thinking are coming to be regarded as a social process. It is in society that language and linguistic ability develop and it is in society alone that the child’s concepts are formed.

CONCULTION

            Thinking is a dynamic process having language as its firm basis .The responsibility of school lies in bringing about the comprehensive development of children through development in ability to think.