CISCE asks for change in teaching methodology as focus shifts to critical questions

Teachers in ICSE and ISC schools are being asked to modify their teaching methodology by asking students more questions in classroom, based on examples and case studies, and also letting the learners frame questions from the text.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which conducts the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) exams, has said in a circular on June 13 that the tests next year will have a higher share of questions that require critical thinking to answer. The share of such questions will keep increasing over the years.

Following the circular, the council has published specimen papers for Classes X and XII.

Teachers across schools are analysing the papers to be able to teach better. Questions that encourage critical thinking test the concept and application, rather than knowledge of the theories, teachers said.

In ICSE math, there are questions that could have more than one correct answer. Students have to identify the correct options.

“Of the two options, both might be correct. One cannot answer such questions without a clear concept of the problem,” said SouvicJati, math teacher and academic coordinator for Classes IX and X at The Heritage School.

Jati said teachers are having to change their mode of interactions in class and the focus is on asking critical-thinking questions at the end of each period or chapter.

The Heritage School is now conducting two unit tests in a week — instead of one, as was the norm — in Classes IX to XII.

“The questions in the unit tests are primarily open ended. Two weekly tests of 30 marks each help cover a subject better than only one exam of 80 marks,” said principal Seema Sapru.

Teachers said their lectures would have to be based on practical applications, instead of definition of principles.

“Practical applications of economic theories need to be explained. Some of the questions are such that students have to identify a principle and then answer,” saidJoeeta Basu, economics teacher at St Xavier’s Collegiate School.

Teachers said questions are more elaborate and students need to read them carefully.

“Teachers will have to work on the reading skills of the students.... Because children are so used to answering one-line questions that they get stressed by an elaborate question,” said Terence John, principal, Julien Day School Kalyani.

“The teachers have been asked to tell children to frame questions from a portion of the text taught that day and answer them. It will test their understanding,” said John.

Some schools have already introduced “critical-thinking questions” in internal exams and many students are getting stumped by them.

“Students are underestimating the simple questions and are often unable to apply their knowledge. That is an area we have to work on,” said John Bagul, principal of South City International School.

The principal of a city school said teachers would take time to adapt to the new system.

“We are still understanding the prescribed role that a teacher has to play in a classroom (in the new system),” he said.