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

Kek, Megan Yih Chyn A. and Huijser, Henk (2011) 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 and Development, 30 (3). pp. 329-341. ISSN 0729-4360

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Abstract

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 domain-specific 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, this article reflects on how critical thinking can be developed through problem-based learning as a pedagogical approach in an aligned learning and teaching context.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Permanent restricted access to published version in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Learning and Teaching Support Unit
Date Deposited:	04 May 2011 23:56
Last Modified:	25 Aug 2014 00:05
Uncontrolled Keywords:	constructively aligned teaching and learning; critical thinking; deep learning; student-focused approach to teaching; digital futures; problem-based learning
Fields of Research :	13 Education > 1301 Education Systems > 130103 Higher Education 13 Education > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130202 Curriculum and Pedagogy Theory and Development 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1702 Cognitive Sciences > 170203 Knowledge Representation and Machine Learning
Socio-Economic Objective:	C Society > 93 Education and Training > 9302 Teaching and Instruction > 930202 Teacher and Instructor Development C Society > 93 Education and Training > 9302 Teaching and Instruction > 930201 Pedagogy
Identification Number or DOI:	10.1080/07294360.2010.501074
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/19023

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