Understanding, planning, and implementation of HOTS by senior high school biology teachers in Banjarmasin-Indonesia

Abstract

Higher-order Thinking Skills (HOTS) is significant for students and has to be trained and managed well by teachers. This study aims to describe the preparation of biology teachers in learning, to analyze the understanding of biology teachers about HOTS, and to examine the efforts of biology teachers in developing HOTS for high school students in Banjarmasin, Indonesia. The subject of this survey was forty-one senior high school biology teachers in the city of Banjarmasin who were involved in routine activities of MGMP (biology subject teacher working group). The research instrument is in the form of a modified questionnaire from previous researchers and has been validated by experts. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistic (percentage). The results showed that the senior high school biology teachers in Banjarmasin have prepared the lesson well, but this was not done consistently (continuously). Some teachers have not maximally prepared the lessons according to the recommended educational standards. The teacher's understanding of HOTS is broad enough, and they assume that HOTS really needs to be trained to students. However, it has not been described in their teaching activities because the HOTS aspect tends to be neglected (not well conducted).