The Relationship between Teachers’ Knowledge Level and Pedagogical Skills of Primary School Teachers with the Implementation of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTs) in Design and Technology Subject

Abstract

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) encompasses higher intellectual level. In line with the aspiration of the Ministry of Education, which is to create a thinking society, much emphasis is needed to be given to the implementation of HOTS. Thinking skills, especially Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS), are the core of the mold of 21st-century education. HOTS can create a lifelong learning spirit in individuals seeking new knowledge and skills in response to global changes. According to the Malaysian Ministry of Education, every student must achieve one of six important attributes: thinking skills. It is for this reason that the Design and Technology RBT subject has been developed to help students innovate in producing products based on technology, so this subject can be a means of applying higher-order thinking skills. Implementation of HOTS within the subject of RBT depends fully on the level of pedagogical knowledge and skills possessed by teachers when conducting teaching and learning processes. Hence, this study is conducted to investigate the level of teachers' knowledge and pedagogical skills concerning the implementation of HOTS in the Design and Technology subject. This study used questionnaires as the main instrument. The research method used in this case applied to quantitative approach. The researcher in this case distributed questionnaires to 160 teachers of Design and Technology, RBT. Descriptive statistics analyzed data obtained during the first instance. The result of this study showed that the level of knowledge of teachers about the implementation of HOTS stood at a mean score of 4.11 (SD = 0.40). The mean score of the pedagogical skills of the teachers was 4.19 (SD = 0.39). The results of the correlation in this study indicated that knowledge levels and pedagogical skills of the teachers were significantly related to the implementation of HOTS in Design and Technology (RBT). In this context, Design and Technology (RBT) teachers possess high knowledge and pedagogical skills. The successful implementation of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in the Design and Technology (RBT) subject will also be based on effective feedback from all the stakeholders.