Academic webinar: what’s so ‘cool’ about HOTS in teaching and learning?

The pedagogical integration of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) within English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, drawing from an academic webinar organized by the Academy of Language Studies (ALS) at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak Branch on June 25, 2021. Centered on the theme “What’s so ‘cool’ about HOTS in teaching and learning?”, the virtual session featured insights from Dr. Chandra Mohan A/L Vasudeva Panicker of the Institute of Teacher Education Batu Lintang Campus, Kuching. The discourse focused on actionable classroom strategies to systematically incorporate cognitive skills—such as critical analysis, synthesis, and evaluation—into ESL curricula. By evaluating the practical frameworks presented, this paper highlights how embedding HOTS addresses complex 21st-century pedagogical challenges, enhances learner engagement, and promotes long-term educational quality. Ultimately, the findings serve as a valuable reference for educators and curriculum developers seeking to advance higher-order cognitive competencies in language acquisition.