Problem Solving is a form of pedagogy which helps teachers to develop HOT among learners of mathematics. In fact my HOT programs in mathematics for the training of teachers and academicians include another pedagogical approach, that is, Thinking–based learning (TBL).
Knowledge of Problem Solving and TBL by teachers will enable them to integrate or infuse HOT skills into their content instructions. Teachers could learn the various HOT skills themselves and make them aware of those skills, how to apply it and help students to make skillful decision on what strategies and mathematical procedures to apply in solving mathematics problems.
Through knowledge of problem solving and TBL teachers will be able to make thinking visible both to themselves and their students. It means that teachers are aware of the HOT skills that they are trying to integrate or infuse in every topic that they are going to teach and could prepare lessons in such a way that they can assess their students not just on their ability to produce answer based on their students content knowledge but also based on the kind of thinking skills that they apply in solving a particular problem.
Teachers will also better understand how cognitive skills and metacognitive skills are interrelated and how they could approach their teaching of mathematics so that its not about passing an examination but also to help their students to view mathematics from intellectual and philosopical perspectives such as the origin of mathematics, what is mathematics and how mathematics bring changes to teachnology and society and ways of thinking and how we lead our society through mathematics.
In fact what is lacking in the implementation of new education based on the Malaysian Blueprint is about knowledge of pedagogy among teachers. This is an apportunity for teachers to get exposed to HOT in padagogy as my experience and reserach data about pedagogy was derived from my involvement in conducting more than 800 programs of Problem Solving to students of all levels from schools to university (especially engineering students) and my experienced in conducting pedagogy related to HOT to teachers and academicians for the past 26 years.
