Fostering Critical Thinking in the Digital Age (original) (raw)

Development of Critical Thinking in the Context of Digital Learning

Economics & Education

The aim of this scientific article is to investigate and analyse the use of digital technologies in designing lessons to promote critical thinking among primary school students. It highlights the importance of this research in the context of today's information-driven society and educational demands. Methodology. The study takes a comprehensive approach to research and analysis. It includes a review of relevant literature on critical thinking, digital technologies and their integration in education. The researchers examine various digital tools and techniques that are suitable for promoting critical thinking in young learners. In addition, the study includes a qualitative evaluation of sample critical thinking lessons designed for primary school students, with a particular focus on blended and distance learning environments. Results. The research findings demonstrate the benefits and opportunities of digital technologies in developing critical thinking skills in young students. ...

Critical Thinking as an Educational Objective in a Global Information Society

SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference, 2018

Critical thinking is defined as the competency for the future, which is crucial for every its member responsible participation in the global information society. Today, possessing this competence often determines how one perceives the reality and responds appropriately to the stimuli of the surrounding world. This competency should be shaped (created) by teachers, especially within the process of formal education. Teachers should choose specific methods and forms of work, the aim of which is to develop the components of the competency to think critically. The paper is a presentation of the results of research that aimed to examine the methods and forms of teachers' effort and work that create the critical thinking competency in students at the third (junior high school) and the fourth (high school) stages of education. Throughout the study, the authors sought an answer to the question: what methods and forms of education are used by teachers at the third and fourth stages of edu...

Critical Thinking, Instruction, and Professional Development for Schools in the Digital Age

Medical Education and Ethics

This chapter presents theories, issues and practices for creating effective, technologically rich learning environments in schools. In the digital age, teachers and school leaders must work together to ensure the development of higher level critical thinking skills for students. Using Bloom's Revised Taxonomy of Knowledge and Webb's Depth of Knowledge as theoretical guides, this chapter discusses how teachers may move towards more flexible, student-centered instructional models rather than traditional teacher-centered methodologies. Guiding questions are presented to assist teachers in determining what to consider when designing technology-enhanced instruction to promote higher level critical thinking skills. Topics include a review of technological factors influencing technology integration, modifications of teacher practices to best match the changing culture in K-12 classrooms, examinations of pedagogical practices in techno-centric classrooms, current and future professi...

Educating for critical thinking in university: The criticality of critical thinking in education and everyday life

Essachess : Journal for Communication Studies, 2018

Abstract: Nowadays, both on-line and "off-line" lives seem to be bound to the terms of democratization of information. While this brings clear advantages, does free and fast access to plenty of information entail that individuals are better informed and well-equipped to think reasonably, make decisions, and solve problems? In a time apparently governed by fraudulent decision-makers, floppy media, fake news, and frantic information, it is essential to know how to think critically. Critical thinking is crucial along schooling, in the world of work, in personal everyday life, and in life as members of a society. Nonetheless, critical thinking is not innate and effortless; it must be developed and mobilized with deliberation in a systematic way. Researchers and international agencies agree that it is critical to have critical thinking to face present-futurist challenges such as the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals . But before individuals learn to become cr...

How teachers actualise critical thinking skills in the Technology classroom

2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the manner in which technology teachers actualise critical thinking skills while supporting learners to solve technological problems. Technology as a subject was introduced in South African schools by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) with the intention to, inter alia, develop learners' critical thinking skills while using the prescribed design process. The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) for technology stipulates that technology should provide learners with the opportunity to solve authentic problems that are embedded in real-life experiences. Solving these authentic technological problems requires learners to engage with critical thinking skills. This entails learners interpreting, analysing, evaluating information, drawing inferences, providing an explanation, and conducting self-regulations. While the importance of critical thinking is widely acknowledged, it seems that teachers find it difficult to actualise these critical thinking skills in the classroom. In addition to this, the literature suggests that technology teachers limit their teaching to the lower cognitive levels, failing to develop learners' higher-order thinking abilities. This is problematic and a reason for concern. This study thus sought to investigate this problem. The conceptual framework used in the study was based on the design process as prescribed by the DBE (2011) and Facione's (1990) critical thinking skills framework. The design process involves the following skills, to:

Are Teacher Students’ Deep Learning and Critical Thinking at Risk of Being Limited in Digital Learning Environments?

2021

The 21st century is quite different from the 20th in regard to the skills people need for work, citizenship, and self-actualisation. Proficiency in the 21st century differs primarily due to the emergence of sophisticated information and communication technologies. In this chapter, we will discuss whether teaching students are sufficiently prepared regarding the need for 21st century skills and how learning in a digital age affects the need for high-level critical thinking. Based on 20 in-depth interviews of Norwegian and New Zealand teaching educators, teaching students’ low critical thinking skills seem to be understood as a global challenge and as connected to the digital revolution. Despite being from different sides of the globe, teaching educators from both countries expressed concern regarding students’ in-depth learning and critical thinking skills in an educational where learning is influenced by digital technology. This article discusses the dilemmas regarding having easier...

The power of problem‐based learning in developing critical thinking skills: preparing students for tomorrow's digital futures in today's classrooms

Higher Education Research & Development, 2011

This article describes problem-based learning as a powerful pedagogical approach and an aligned teaching and learning system to explicitly and directly teach critical thinking skills in a broad range of disciplines. Problem-based learning is argued to be a powerful pedagogical approach as it explicitly and actively engages students in a learning and teaching system, characterised by reiterative and reflective cycles of learning domain-specific knowledge and doing the thinking themselves. At the same time, students are guided and coached by the problem-based learning teacher, who models critical thinking skills in the acquisition of the domainspecific knowledge. This article will explore what critical thinking actually means. What are critical thinking skills? How best to teach such skills? What is the potential role of problem-based learning in teaching critical thinking skills? Finally, the article reflects on how critical thinking can be developed through problem-based learning as a pedagogical approach in an aligned learning and teaching context.

Critical Thinking in the Classroom…and Beyond

2014

Critical thinking in the classroom is a common term used by educators. Critical thinking has been called "the art of thinking about thinking" (Ruggiero, V.R., 2012) with the intent to improve one's thinking. The challenge, of course, is to create learning environments that promote critical thinking both in the classroom and beyond. Teaching and practicing critical thinking provides adults with the opportunity to embrace and take charge of their learning. Adults engaged in critical thinking approach the classroom experience differently. Typically, students who implement critical thinking skills approach the courseware in a more thoughtful and effective manner, ask more challenging questions and participate in the learning process more intensely. This critical thinking process endures beyond the classroom and into the workplace. This session examines the background of critical thinking, its role in the classroom and beyond that to the workplace.

Developing Critical Thinking in Digital Era

2022

Critical thinking is one of the skills needed as a form of adjustment to changes in every area of life today. In general, critical thinking is defined as an individual's ability related to understanding a concept, implementing the concept, and evaluating the concept. Critical thinking skills can grow and develop along with individual knowledge and experience. Critical thinking skills need to be trained to increase in the individual. At this time many educational institutions have instilled character education in the form of critical thinking delivered through learning. The purpose of this research is to find out various methods of developing critical thinking in the digital era. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with library research methods. The results of the study stated that the importance of developing critical thinking skills can be used to understand an opinion appropriately and selectively in interpreting opinions through an evaluation before giving comments or reactions, and rebutting opinions if they are deemed inappropriate. This is important to be able to adapt to the digital age where information is very fast and easy to obtain. So that we can become a generation that is principled and selective. The results of the study stated that the importance of developing critical thinking skills can be used to understand an opinion appropriately and selectively in interpreting opinions through an evaluation before giving comments or reactions, and rebutting opinions if they are deemed inappropriate. This is important to be able to adapt to the digital age where information is very fast and easy to obtain. So that we can become a generation that is principled and selective. The results of the study stated that the importance of developing critical thinking skills can be used to understand an opinion appropriately and selectively in interpreting opinions through an evaluation before giving comments or reactions, and rebutting opinions if they are deemed inappropriate. This is important to be able to adapt to the digital age where information is very fast and easy to obtain. So that we can become a generation that is principled and selective.

Conversations on Critical Thinking: Can Critical Thinking Find Its Way Forward as the Skill Set and Mindset of the Century?

Education Sciences

The capacity to successfully, positively engage with the cognitive capacities of critical thinking has become the benchmark of employability for many diverse industries across the globe and is considered critical for the development of informed, decisive global citizenship. Despite this, education systems in several countries have developed policies and practices that limit the opportunities for students to authentically participate in the discussions, debates, and evaluative thinking that serve to develop the skill set and mindset of critical thinkers. This writing examines the status of critical thinking in four different contexts across the globe as reflected in educational policies and academic experiences as a preface to investigating actual classroom practices and possible impacts the support of critical thinking skills may have on the potential development of the global citizens of the future. Each vignette reflects the contextualized difficulties that are presented by social...