Using a Matrix Technique to Help Middle Level Students Develop Thinking Skills

Abstract

The authors of this study evaluated the effectiveness of training practicum teachers to give direct instruction to middle level students in the use of a matrix technique to develop the thinking skills of comparing and contrasting. Both the delivery of instruction by the practicum teachers after training and the performance of their middle school students in forming comparisons and contrasts after instruction were evaluated and analyzed. Practicum teachers were able to deliver instruction effectively in the matrix technique to their middle level students. Analysis of covariance indicated that the matrix technique did produce a significant effect upon the ability of the middle level students in the treatment group to use those thinking skills effectively. Comparisons of the ratings of the teachers' delivery of instruction and their students' adjusted mean scores indicated the effectiveness of teacher modeling of thinking skills processes for middle level students.