Using Thinking Hats in Teaching Short Stories for Developing Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills of Student Teachers of English

Abstract

The present study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of a training program based on using thinking hats in teaching short stories to develop student teachers of English problem solving and decision making skills. Reviewing literature and related studies have proved that the six Thinking Hats represent six modes of thinking and are directions to think rather than labels for thinking. They improve reading comprehension and cognitive and metacognitive strategies. Reviewing literature also revealed that problem –based learning can be effective in teaching literature by presenting students with authentic materials. Students can engage literature at considerable depth when they are given the time and space to think deeply about a narrowly focused theme presented as a professional problem for which they are responsible for finding the answers. As the students look at the subject from different angles, they learn problem-solving skills that they can then apply to those they may face in real life. Decision-making and problem solving are essential skills for adults and children. Hats in sequences provide a colorful six-step structure to solve problems and make decisions. Life is the sum of many decisions we make every day; everything we say and do is the result of a decision, whether we make it consciously or not. For every choice, big or small, there is no easy formula for making the right decision. The best you can do is to approach it from as many perspectives as possible and then choose a course of action that seems reasonable and balanced. Problem solving is a basic skill needed by today’s learners. Educators are revising curricula to include integrated learning environments which encourage learners to use higher order thinking skills, and in particular, problem solving skills. Twenty student teachers of English, second year, in Women College, Ain Shams University were chosen to be the participants of the study. They were trained to use the six thinking hats in studying short stories to develop their problem solving and decision making skills. All the hypotheses of the study were supported. Students achieved progress in their problem solving skills after the implementation of the training program as compared to their performance before the training program. Students’ mastery of decision-making skills improved after the implementation of the training program as compared to their performance before the training program application. Hence, the positive findings of the study proved the effectiveness of the training program that was based on the six thinking hats in developing student teachers’ problem solving and decision-making skills. Keywords: the six thinking hats; problem solving skills; decision making skills