Thinking Skills in Problem Solving: Pre-Knowledges

[EN] The present article shows the results of a study aimed at evaluating the way in which physics students of first semesters use the thinking skills in problem solving. We speak of pre-knowledge in terms of prior theoretical knowledge of an area of ​​knowledge, in this case it is about identifying pre-knowledge in the case of thinking skills for students who have recently entered higher education. At present, the teaching of thinking skills is considered one of the main characteristics of education for the 21st century. An instrument of ten problems submitted to expert judgment was designed to be applied during the academic semester to the students of electrical physics of two Colombian universities during the years 2016 and 2018. Are evaluated the categories of description, representation, identification of relationships, use of the mathematical model and drawing conclusions for each of the problems. The results show statistically a very low starting point in the ability to use such skills, and is in turn a reflection element for the design of effective pedagogical strategies in solving problems in physics in higher education.