What is High-level Thinking? Why Must be Exciting?

Lately, quite excited with the emergence of questions that are often referred to as  High-level Thinking questions on National Examinations at various school levels. Many students complain because you can't do High-level Thinking questions at the UN. Many of them commented that questions like that have never been taught in school. The real thing what happens is that the form of the questions (what they call problems) High-level Thinking has never been out in the UN in previous years! Material, basic concepts to do the problems they have actually learned. Then why? many students say that the questions have not been taught in school? Yes, one of the answers is because of what they refer to as "questions already done never taught "is" a problem that they often get and already have formula / fast way."

In my opinion, excitement, student protests are the result of the learning process During this time that has not been much emphasis on the ability to conceptual thinking, reasoning, connecting one concept with another, applying in cases, and analyzing a material. Students in Indonesia in general still learning by memorizing memorization, and applying memorizing. On mathematics, it is more clearly seen from a partial view student major towards Mathematics. Some students still consider that Mathematics is a lesson full of memorized formulas and calculations complicated. Many of these students learn Mathematics by memorizing formulas, see example problems, do practice questions by looking at the steps in the example problem, then memorize the process again. Believe me that this way of learning mathematics is completely wrong! The funny thing is, there are still many Mathematics textbooks that are indeed written as if in an arrangement support such learning processes. A book with a simple explanation of the concept, then followed by a few sample questions, then ending with which question exercise the type of problem is similar to the problem that has been exemplified before (just changing the numbers only).
Actually what needs to be the concern of the school, especially teachers is the need for improvement first in the learning system. So it's not as well students are immediately shocked by High-level Thinking questions (questions that have never existed at UN before) without habituating the learning process first. I observed a difference between the way of learning for most Olympic students with students in general at school. In preparing students to face Mathematics competition, they must be familiarized with the process learning that emphasizes understanding of concepts, linking concepts with one others, applying concepts in a problem, analyzing. Me sure that none of the students have participated in Math competitions often will be surprised at  High-level Thinking questions at the UN. Why? Because they already accustomed to thinking "problem solving". They will not protest on the grounds "This problem was never taught in school." Why? Yes because it's a matter of question In the Olympics, almost no one has ever been taught to be 100% good in Olympic coaching, especially in schools. They are accustomed to learn the core concepts
If we look at what is the purpose of the  High-level Thinking model assessment? Namely to prepare the nation's generation to be ready to face 21st century skills there needs to be many changes in the existing education system so far. Not only curriculum changes, but also in aspects of learning methods, learning materials, even to the learning support facilities. How should the High-level Thinking development process work well in Indonesia? Yes, the main thing is the learning process! We are often wrong focus with the emphasis, like things happening now are even more emphasized about the High-level Thinking problem. Even for the teacher more busy with questions:

• "How do you differentiate between High-level Thinking and not?"
• "How do you make a High-level Thinking question?"

Compared to focusing first on understanding and the process of developing the lesson. The process leap also caused teacher concerns. Worried if students will not be able to do High-level Thinking questions at the UN because the High-level Thinking problem is still unreadable so it can't be made yet "formula fast "he. Once again I say, true learning should be It is not like that! Our education, whether realized or not, has been too long centered on results and often ignores the process. This seminar module will focus more on giving an idea of how we can explore learning by emphasizing concepts through shapes questions that can be categorized as High-level Thinking problems. Then what is meant with the High-level Thinking problem? Based on the extension of High-level Thinking, it is clear that the question is intended must lead to testing higher order thinking skills.
High-level Thinking questions measure ability:

1. transfer of one concept to another;
2. process and apply information;
3. looking for links from various different information;
4. using information to solve problems;
5. critically examines ideas and information.

The discussion of learning and High-level Thinking questions discussed in this blog is more mine focus on some material at the junior high school level. Hopefully this book can help give a little "enlightenment" about High-level Thinking learning direction that is supposed to be applied for progress nation. Hopefully this book can help teachers develop education quality.