N. Čiučiulkienė, I. Tandzegolskienė-Bielaglovė, M. Čuladienė
Development of Critical Thinking through Phenomenon-Based Learning: Experiences of Foreign Language Teachers
Development of Critical Thinking through Phenomenon-Based Learning: Experiences of Foreign Language Teachers
Nijolė Čiučiulkienė
Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Ilona Tandzegolskienė-Bielaglovė
Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Martyna Čuladienė
Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
The current research findings state that Phenomenon-based learning (further PhenoBL) is one of the successful didactic innovations that enable the development of Four Competencies: Creativity, Critical thinking, Collaboration, and Communication. Still, as with every innovation, PhenoBL provokes a lot of argumentative reasoning the major ideas of which might be grouped into pros and cons that are centered around the failure or success of the implementation of innovation. The research tries to answer the question of how are foreign language teachers in Lithuania prepared to apply the PhenoBL method in TFL in Lithuanian schools.
As there are not so many investigations directed toward the teachers‘ attitudes about the results of the implementation of PhenoBL, especially in FLT (Foreign Language Teaching), this research aims to examine the attitudes of foreign language teachers in Lithuania, about the implementation of the PhenoB, while employing the quantitative research approach. The quantitative survey results have indicated the relevance of having foundational knowledge about the processes of any innovation implementation, revealed the importance of didactic knowledge about the PhenoBL itself, highlighted the role of the teacher as a guide in the process, and the complementary nature of teaching languages using PhenoBL without replacing the curriculum. The teachers stressed the idea that the PhenoBL focuses on the process rather than the final product and can be integrated differently depending on the linguistic abilities of the learners which empowers students not only to manage the language learning process themselves but also puts emphasis on increasing critical thinking abilities.
Keywords: critical thinking; foreign language teaching; innovative methods; phenomenon-based learning
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Biography
Nijolė Čiučiulkienė is a Doctor of Social Sciences, Associate Professor at the Academy of Education, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania. Her research interests include modern didactics, phenomenon based learning, PBL, teacher training, edutainment, pedagogical communication and rhetorics, mentoring. Social interests: public advisor of Lithuanian Parliament member, expert on the database “Lituanistika.”
Ilona Tandzegolskienė-Bielaglovė is a Doctor of Social Sciences, Associate Professor at the Academy of Education, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania. Her reasearch interest include learning culture, theories of motivation, career planning and career counseling, organization of learning activities outside of school, education based on the study of phenomena. Social interest: Member of the Lithuanian Association of Professional Relations Consultants since 2023; ISCI International supervision and coaching institute association member since 2022; Member of Researchers' Excellence Network (RENET) since 2017.
Martyna Čuladienė has Master degree in Education. Her reasearch interest include phenomenon based learning method and foreign languages teaching. Social interest: Community Outreach and Engagement: engaging with local communities to understand their educational needs and working collaboratively to develop programmes and initiatives that support learners of all ages.
