The aim of this study was three-fold: first, to describe pre-service teachers&rsquo / (i) critical thinking levels, (ii) attitudes towards teaching for critical thinking, and (iii) self-efficacy beliefs in teaching for critical thinking in terms of performance and outcome efficacy beliefs / secondly, to investigate whether there was a correlation between these three variables / and finally, to examine the relationship between participants&rsquo / certain background variables and their critical thinking levels, attitudes and self efficacy beliefs in teaching for critical thinking. A cross-sectional survey design was employed. The participants of the study were senior pre-service teachers from fourteen state universities across the seven geographical regions in Turkey. Quantitative data were collected by means of (i) a critical thinking test, (ii) an attitude scale, (iii) a self-efficacy scale with two subscales: performance efficacy and outcome efficacy, and (iv) a participant profile form, all of which were designed by the researcher. Both descriptive and inferential statistics (MANOVA) were used. Results indicated that pre-service teachers&rsquo / critical thinking levels were &lsquo / below average&rsquo / however, they had a moderately positive attitude towards and a moderate level of self efficacy in teaching for critical thinking. The correlation analyses indicated that there was a moderate degree of positive correlation between teachers&rsquo / attitude and self efficacy beliefs towards critical thinking. Finally, the results of MANOVA analyses indicated that pre-service teachers&rsquo / gender and level of motivation towards teaching had no impact on their critical thinking levels, attitudes or self efficacy beliefs in teaching for critical thinking. On the other hand, major, academic achievement, high school background, father&rsquo / s level of education, reading behaviour, and prior training in critical thinking had impacts of varying degrees on one or more of the dependent variables.

本研究依據批判思考主要特徵與教學理論，建構一套批判思考教學模式。根據文獻探討界定：一、批判思考主要內涵為批判思考能力、批判思考傾向與批判思考所需之必要知識；二、本研究所採之批判思考教學模式為前導活動、呈現主題、概念比較、分組活動、發表與澄清以及判斷與選擇。為探討批判思考教學在國小社會科實施效果，分別以兩所國小五年級中的兩班學生為研究對象，進行兩個月教學實驗，並編製批判思考測驗以比較兩組在批判思考學習效果的差異，此外，蒐集批判思考教學組學生在教學過程之相關資料進行質的分析。本研究工具為（一）批判思考測驗；（二）學習日記；（三）學習回饋問卷；（四）個案學習回饋問卷。 主要研究結果如下： 一、本研究之批判思考教學對批判思考能力有顯著教學效果。 二、本研究之批判思考教學對批判思考傾向有顯著教學效果。 三、本研究之批判思考教學對學生辯論之參與、聚焦與流暢性、意見陳述與反駁方面有明顯幫助。 四、接受批判思考教學的學生在信任理性、提出客觀且良好理由、多元思考等方面有顯著進步。 五、批判思考教學組學生對本研究之批判思考教學有相當正面的評價。 針對上述發現進行討論並提出建議： 1.本研究之批判思考教學模式值得國小社會課嘗試。2.應以學生個別差異實施批判思考教學。3.可採對話與辯證方式進行社會課教學。4.應營造安全溫暖且容忍犯錯的學習環境。5.宜容許社會課教學活動設計有彈性調整空間。6.應採多元評量的方式與內容。7.可設計學習單幫助學生有效蒐集資料。8.宜運用學習日記幫助學生進行反思。9.教師應重視批判思考教學並進行相關研究。 / This study constructs a model for teaching critical thinking based on the major characteristics and theories of critical thinking. To probe into the effects of teaching critical thinking in social studies, the researcher performs an experiment on a sample of 131 fifth-grade elementary school students for two months. The data-collection instruments include: (a) The Critical Thinking Test; (b) The Learning Diary; (c) The Learning Feedback Questionnaire; and (d) The Learning Feedback Questionnaire For Special Case. The following conclusions become evident. On the theoretical aspect: first, the main concepts of critical thinking include critical thinking ability, critical thinking disposition and the knowledge for critical thinking; second, the steps of the model for teaching critical thinking are guiding activities, displaying theme, comparing concepts, group discussion, sharing and clarifying, and finally, judgment and decision-making. On the experimental aspect: it was found that (a) Teaching critical thinking has significantly positive effects both on critical thinking ability and on critical thinking disposition. (b) Teaching critical thinking helps students have good performance in debates. (c) The students of experimental group make great progress on achieving confidence in reason and pluralistic thinking. (d) The students of experimental group give a vary positive evaluation on teaching critical thinking. Through these results, some guidelines are suggested as follows: (a) The model for teaching critical thinking is of great worth in social studies. (b) Critical thinking should be taught according to individual difference of students. (c) Dialogue and dialectic process is good for teaching social studies. (d) The atmosphere of classroom must be safe, warm and tolerating learning error. (e) Teachers should put emphasis on teaching critical thinking and on probing into critical thinking.

This study discuss two phenomenones. The first phenomenon is photosynthesis; this process played a key role in the emergence of life and is necessary to maintain a various life on our Earth. Photosynthesis enables plants to use a bottomless supply of solar energy to produce organic substance and release oxygen. The second phenomenon is critical thinking; the ability to sort and evaluate new information and form "your" own opinion indispensable ability for modern human. In a theoretical part of the study is dealt with term critical thinking, teaching methods of critical thinking and photosynthesis of biological and didactic point of view. In a practical part of the study is dealt with compilation and verification materials for thematic unit of photosynthesis, which would lead to the development of critical thinking of high school pupils (students). Furthermore in the practical part is a questionnaire survey, which is evaluated existing using of methods of critical thinking at biology teachers at high schools and is analyzed their teaching methods to the topic of photosynthesis. In the study is dealt with processing the topic of photosynthesis in selected high school textbooks.