A Quantitative Study on Prospective Teachers’ Assessment Skills About Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking and Problem- Solving Skills Before Intervention on Hots

Abstract: An experimental study attempted to find out the perceptions of prospective teachers’ assessment skill on critical thinking, Creative Thinking skills and Problem-solving skill before completing the Bachelor of Education degree. A Random sampling technique was employed to select 36 participants, from final year B. ED GRI (DTU) students, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu. To know their assessment skills in setting questions using HOTS. Students were asked to prepare a assessment tool with six dimensions. Six dimensions include Objective and subjective type of questions. Objective questions included fill in blanks (20), match the following (10), true /false (10), MCQ (20), subjective included short Answer questions (20) and Paragraph Answer questions (20). The scores were subjected to descriptive analysis. Analysis indicated an importance using Hots in assessment tools as their performance was moderate in some of the dimensions and low in some. This also has denoted the awareness on HOTS needs to be given to prospective teachers, regarding enhancing these 3 skills. Prospective teachers recognized the significance and impact of HOTS in fostering Higher Order Thinking Skills. Furthermore, every student teacher has also identified the dimensions to be focused by them in framing questions with HOTS. The study suggests promoting prospective teachers’ skills in critical and creative thinking and problem-solving skills and applying these skills to real-life situations.