A. Zohar et al., ASSESSING THE COGNITIVE DEMANDS REQUIRED OF STUDENTS IN CLASS DISCOURSE, HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS, International journal of science education, 20(7), 1998, pp. 769-782
An important question which is often overlooked addresses the nature a
nd quantity of higher-order thinking activities when teachers are not
explicitly 'teaching for thinking' but rather acting and behaving rout
inely. This study investigates the scope and nature of tasks demanding
students' application of higher-order thinking skills while studying
biology in junior and senior high schools in Israel. The method used i
s the collection and analysis of questions asked by teachers during cl
assroom discourse, in homework assignments and in tests. The main find
ings show: (a) that the frequency of higher-order thinking questions i
n biology class discourse in Israel is approximately 20%; (b) that the
cognitive level of teachers' questioning in HS is higher than in JHS;
(c) that the matriculation exam has a strong influence on tests given
by teachers; and (d) that while inquiry questions permeated KS testin
g they are less salient in HS class discourse, indicating the need for
remedial treatment which should include the integration of more inqui
ry-oriented pedagogies into classroom practice.