Teaching critical thinking and problem solving in physics

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss potential influence in physics education of the research findings about critical thinking and problem solving as a closely related forms of higher-order thinking. Since our society is becoming more and more dependent on technology and science literacy, having a background in physics and math is important to survive in this rapidly changing world. Teaching and learning physics is different from most other disciplines. These processes require doing experiments, make predictions, pose questions and hypothesis, solve problems, manipulate with mathematical symbols, and use different forms of formal representation. Physics may provide a foundation for developing logic, critical thinking, problem solving and decision making. Physics gives students tools to investigate the nature, to do experiments, and to increase their ability to analyze and make sense of the world around them. The great strength of physics is that a few fundamental concepts can explain a vast range of phenomena.