The effect of critical thinking model cort 1 on developing critical listening skills

Critical thinking, a primary 21st-century skill, is crucial for individuals to adapt to the demands of the age and to develop into individuals with a high level of awareness who take responsibility for their learning processes. One of the primary goals of today's curriculum is to ensure that students not only acquire knowledge but also use this knowledge meaningfully and effectively through questioning, analyzing, evaluating, developing different perspectives, and generating solutions. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of education provided through the CoRT 1 thinking program on developing critical listening skills in sixth-grade students. The study was conducted with sixth-grade students in the first semester of the 2024-2025 academic year. The study lasted 15 weeks. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method using random assignment. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the study based on an action research design. In the study, the experimental group received critical listening training based on the CoRT 1 thinking program, while the control group received instruction in accordance with the current curriculum. The findings revealed that students in the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in critical thinking skills such as analysis, evaluation, inference, interpretation, and explanation. The increases observed in the interpretation and explanation dimensions are particularly striking. Student and teacher feedback also supported these findings. Students noted that critical listening had become a significant part of their thinking, while the teacher reported increased student engagement, noticeable changes in their awareness of critical thinking and listening skills, and improvements in their thinking skills. In conclusion, the CoRT 1 thinking program offers an effective teaching model for developing students' multifaceted thinking, evaluation, and questioning skills through a critical listening-based approach. The research demonstrates that adapting the CoRT 1 program to Turkish language courses will significantly contribute to both cognitive and affective development.