Tamil Primary School Teachers Understanding on Constructing HOTS Items in Mathematics

Abstract

Many studies indicate that it is crucial for teachers to understand the levels of higher order thinking skills (HOTS) questions and how to construct HOTS Mathematics items in order to teach effectively and constructively in classrooms. The objective of this study was to investigate Tamil Primary school teachers' understanding (from cognitive, affective and behavioral aspects) of the construction of HOTS Mathematics items based on their teaching experiences. This quantitative study employed descriptive research design. The sample of this study consists of 254 Mathematics teachers from Tamil Primary schools in three states in Malaysia. Stratified sampling was adopted in selecting the sample. The researchers used an adapted survey questionnaire to measure teachers' understanding on constructing HOTS Mathematics items based on three constructs namely cognitive, affective and behavioral. Findings of this study indicate that teachers with high and average experience in teaching Mathematics have significantly better understanding (in terms of cognitive, affective and behavioral aspects) in constructing HOTS Mathematic items compared with teachers who have low experience. In terms of pedagogical implications, the findings of this study suggests that senior teachers should conduct more workshops and training for teachers with less experience to convey their experiences and skills. In terms of practical implications.