Improving learners’ critical thinking and learning engagement through Socratic questioning in Nominal Group Technique

While online discussions remain popular in college classrooms, mixed results persist about their effectiveness in eliciting authentic learning. This case study explores how students perceive the influence of the Photovoice method on their authentic learning, critical thinking, engagement, and peer interaction in an asynchronous online discussion. Photovoice is a research method combining photography with social action, in which people express their points of view by photographing scenes that highlight certain themes. Students in an online undergraduate course engaged in an online discussion which asked them to connect personal images to the course content. Students reported that this strategy supported authentic learning, critical thinking, engagement, and interaction; in addition, a correlational analysis found that these factors are highly interrelated. This case study proposes recommendations for practitioners interested in using a similar approach.

Lack of engagement in asynchronous online discussion is a common issue due to insufficient participation, disinterest in discussion, superficial discussion, and the influence of peer behaviors. The purpose of this study was to enhance student engagement in asynchronous online discussion by using student-led discussion and peer assessment. A mixed methods design was utilized in this study to offset quantitative and qualitative research weaknesses and to draw on the strengths of both (Plano Clark & Creswell, 2008). The control group participated in the discussion managed by the instructor, who posted weekly discussion questions to a class discussion board and facilitated the discussion. The experimental group worked in smaller discussion groups, led by a different student each week who posed a discussion question, facilitated the group discussion, and conducted a peer review. Interviews and discussion post analysis showed that students were behaviorally engaged and the way in which they demonstrated cognitive and emotional engagement varied. Survey results indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in the control group and experimental groups’ cognitive and emotional engagement, and academic performance. Students liked the student-led format, however, they preferred participating rather than leading. Directions for future research on student engagement in online discussion were identified.

This paper investigates the implementation and impact of critical thinking instruction in political science courses across UK universities. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study evaluates how critical thinking is integrated into curricula and its effects on students’ political analysis skills. Surveys, interviews, and classroom observations were conducted with students and instructors from ten diverse universities. Findings indicate significant improvements in students’ abilities to analyze arguments, evaluate evidence, and engage in political discourse following critical thinking instruction. Pedagogical strategies such as debates, problem-based learning, and reflective writing were identified as effective, although challenges such as resource limitations and student resistance were noted. Theoretical implications are discussed, emphasizing cognitive and constructivist learning theories. Practical recommendations are offered for educators and policymakers to enhance the integration of critical thinking in political science education. This study contributes to the discourse on educational best practices and underscores the importance of critical thinking in preparing informed and capable political science graduates.

In recognition of the power of a rubric as an assessment tool, a range of rubrics for assessing asynchronous online discussions have emerged in the literature over recent years. The assessment criteria used may have as their basis an underlying conceptual model of online discourse, or they may have emerged more pragmatically. Irrespective, one intention of the rubrics is to make explicit and transparent the sorts of engagement expected of students in discussions, in the hope that students will take on board the advice and act accordingly. This paper explores the purported value of rubrics in the light of research into factors that influence students’ engagement in online discussions, in particular students’ conceptions of the place of discussions in their learning. Value would seem to be there, but that value is qualified by considerations of fundamental course design.

The rapid advancement of educational technology presents new opportunities to develop learning models that foster essential 21st-century skills, such as critical thinking. This study aims to develop a TACK (Technological, Andragogical, Content Knowledge) learning model utilizing a digital flipbook to enhance the critical thinking abilities of students in the Non-Formal Education (PNF) Department at Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP). This research follows a Research and Development (RD) design, encompassing five stages: needs analysis, model design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Data were gathered using pretest and posttest instruments to measure students’ critical thinking skills, alongside student satisfaction surveys to evaluate the model's reception. The findings indicate a significant improvement in students' critical thinking, with posttest scores (81.6) increasing by 25% from the pretest average (65.3). Additionally, the satisfaction survey revealed a 90% positive response rate, demonstrating strong student engagement and acceptance of the TACK model integrated with digital flipbook content. The TACK learning model, when supported by a digital flipbook, proves effective in enhancing students’ critical thinking skills within the context of non-formal education. Its adaptability suggests potential for broader application in both formal and informal educational settings. These results highlight the importance of integrating technological tools with pedagogical strategies to foster innovative and impactful learning experiences.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the application and cultivation effects of critical thinking in high school academic English writing, with a particular focus on identifying effective teaching strategies and intervention methods. Methods:. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 120 second-year high school students (aged 15-16) in Shaanxi Province, China. The study included: (1) a 10-week teaching intervention with experimental (n=60) and control (n=60) groups; (2) pre- and post-intervention CCTDI-CV questionnaires; (3) writing assessments based on IELTS Task 2 criteria; and (4) semi-structured interviews with 10 randomly selected participants (20-30 minutes each). Results:. The study revealed significant improvements in students’ critical thinking disposition, particularly in truth-seeking, open-mindedness, and analytical ability. The experimental group also demonstrated marked progress in academic writing skills, especially in analytical thinking and argumentative expression. Qualitative data further indicated enhanced metacognitive awareness and strategic application of critical thinking in writing processes. Conclusions: The findings suggest that critical thinking plays an important role in high school academic English writing. Based on these results, the study proposes corresponding teaching recommendations and directions for future research, emphasizing the need for integrated critical thinking instruction in English writing curriculum.

To explore the influence of the group personality composition on students' engagement in the online discussion, correlation analysis was conducted among the Big-5 personality of group members and student engagement in the group. This study comprehensively used four measurement indicators of the Big-Five personality of group members as group composition: average, variance, maximum, and minimum. In this study, student engagement was divided into behavioral engagement, affective engagement, and cognitive engagement. The study found that the combination of the Big-Five personalities in the group could have an impact on student engagement, especially affective engagement. When organizing students' online discussion, the instructors need to consider the personality characteristics of the group members carefully.

University students’ attempts at critical thinking in research projects frequently require supervisor interventions in the form of advice giving, feedback and supportive information. Providing such interventions to each student through classroom teaching or conventional meetings is restrictive as to timing and place. By using a Digital Behaviours Change Intervention (DBCI) technique, students can get continual assistance from supervisors in their research work through the web or mobile platforms. This research sought to understand students’ perceptions of using digital mobile-based behaviour change interventions to improve their critical thinking and research skills. A survey instrument inspired by the Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework was designed to measure student self-perceived critical thinking abilities before and after an experiment. Five supervisors were interviewed to validate the instrument and the behaviour change intervention content. An experimental study was conducted to explore how students interact with a mobile app-based behaviour change intervention, which was developed using the LifeGuide Toolbox platform, to support critical thinking over three months of a research project. The results showed a significant improvement in students’ critical thinking skills with respect to five intellectual standards (clarity, precision, relevance, logic, and fairness) after using the system.

Critical thinking is one of the essential 21st-century skills that must be fostered in chemistry learning. However, observations indicate that students still struggle to connect the concept of benzene with a deep understanding, resulting in suboptimal development of critical thinking skills. This best practice aims to describe the implementation of the discovery learning model in enhancing the critical thinking skills of twelfth-grade MIPA 2 students at Kolese De Britto Senior High School, Yogyakarta, on the topic of benzene. The study was conducted with 29 male students aged 17–18 years. The discovery learning model was implemented through six instructional stages: stimulation, problem identification, data collection, data processing, verification, and generalization. The research instruments consisted of (1) a critical thinking test covering interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference with five essay questions; (2) a student activity observation sheet with ten engagement criteria; (3) open-ended interviews with six guiding questions to explore learning experiences; and (4) documentation in the form of field notes and students’ group work. Instrument validity was established through expert judgment, while the reliability of the test was analyzed using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.82 (high category). The results revealed a significant improvement in students’ critical thinking skills. The average test score increased from 58.3 (pre-implementation) to 74.6 (initial cycle), and further to 86.2 (final practice). The N-gain analysis yielded 0.67, categorized as medium-to-high. Observations also indicated enhanced student participation in discussions, the ability to pose questions, and independent conclusion-making. In conclusion, this best practice demonstrates that the discovery learning model is effective in improving students’ critical thinking skills in learning benzene. The limitation of this study lies in the relatively small number of participants and the restricted context of a single school. Therefore, further research with a larger population and different chemistry topics is recommended to strengthen the generalizability of the findings.

This study aims to see the influence of digital technology of toponym rays on students' creative and critical thinking skills. The use of technology in the classroom is essential to improve educational standards in the rapidly evolving digital era. This study uses experimental design and quantitative methodology. The subject of the study was a randomly selected student of class X at Pontianak State High School. The research implementation method involves the use of digital toponym ray applications for one semester of school. The instruments used include creative and critical thinking skills tests that have been validated. Data is collected based on the measurement of specific skills, such as creative and critical thinking skills, which are measured with valid and reliable instruments. The data analysis technique used is experimental statistics. The t-test was used to determine the significance of the difference between the scores of the experimental class and the control class. The results showed that there was a significant improvement in students' creative and critical thinking skills after using digital technology of toponymic rays, namely the results of data analysis showed that the average score of creative and critical thinking skills of students in the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. The average score of creative thinking skills in the experimental group was 85.2, while in the control group it was only 70.4. For critical thinking skills, the average score in the experimental group was 82.7, while in the control group it was only 68.3. and The results of the t-test showed that the t-value for creative thinking skills was 3.45 with a p-value < 0.05, which means there was a significant difference between the two groups. For critical thinking skills, the t-value was 3.87 with a p-value < 0.05, which also showed a significant difference. Keywords: Digital Technology, Creative Thinking, Critical

We used the design-based research approach to test and refine a theoretically grounded goal-access-feedback-challenge-collaboration gamification model. The testbed was a 10-week, university-level e-learning design course offered in two consecutive semesters. In Study 1, we implemented the initial goal-access-feedback-challenge-collaboration model in semester one of the 2020–2021 academic year (N = 26). The aim was to enhance student behavioral engagement in online discussion forums, affective engagement in the class, and learning performance. The results of Study 1 showed that although most participants were engaged in this gamified learning experience during the first two sessions, they gradually lost interest and their participation in online discussions dropped over the next eight weeks. Thus, we introduced a new element, fantasy, into the original model. In Study 2, we tested the effectiveness of the goal-access-feedback-challenge-collaboration-fantasy model on students’ learning outcomes in semester two of 2020–2021 (N = 23). The results of Study 2 suggested that, compared to the original model, the goal-access-feedback-challenge-collaboration-fantasy model can better promote students’ engagement in online discussion, as measured by increased interaction with peers, learning experience, and learning performance.

The research examines the functionality of Project SELF (Strengthening Engagement and Learning Foundations) in enhancing the academic performance of Senior High School students at Southville 1 Integrated National High School, specifically in the subject Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Recent studies have shown that contextualized learners’ activity sheets significantly improve students’ academic performance. The research addresses students’ low Mean Percentage Score (MPS) in the subject by utilizing structured activity sheets to enhance student engagement, critical thinking, and foundational learning skills. Moreover, few studies have examined activity sheets in Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person as supplementary materials. Their effectiveness is well-documented in other subjects, and their potential to enhance understanding and critical thinking in this subject is still unexplored. An experimental research design with pre-test and post-test methods was employed to measure the impact of Project SELF. The results indicate a significant improvement in students’ post-test scores, demonstrating the activity sheets’ effectiveness in enhancing learning outcomes. The study concludes structured activity sheets can be a valuable supplementary learning resource in Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Recommendations to strengthen student academic performance further include continuously enhancing Project SELF materials, integrating more active learning strategies, and encouraging collaborative learning among students. Additionally, the study suggests institutionalizing Project SELF to ensure its sustainability by incorporating it into the school’s learning framework, reviewing and revising the contents of the activity sheets based on the lowest-scoring items and providing instructional coaching for teachers on Project SELF integration.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate integrative-prismatic-based interdisciplinary teaching materials for an error analysis course in the English department at a higher education institution. The research employed a three-phase method: (1) design and development of teaching materials, (2) implementation, and (3) data analysis. Participants included 60 English department students, selected through purposive sampling to ensure diverse representation in terms of gender, linguistic background, and academic proficiency. The instruments used were pre- and post-tests, classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and student artifacts such as assignments and reflective journals. Data were collected over a 10-week period, during which the teaching materials were integrated into the course curriculum. Quantitative data from pre- and post-tests were analyzed using paired sample t-tests to assess improvements in students' error analysis skills, while qualitative data from observations, interviews, and focus groups were analyzed thematically to identify changes in engagement, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary learning. The findings revealed significant improvements in students’ abilities to identify, categorize, and correct errors using interdisciplinary approaches, as well as increased engagement and development of critical thinking skills. These results suggest that the integrative-prismatic framework is effective in fostering deeper learning and adaptability among students. The study implies that such interdisciplinary materials can be valuable for curriculum development in higher education, but further research is needed to validate these findings across different courses and contexts to establish broader applicability and effectiveness.

The development of critical thinking is one of the main requirements of the modern educational process. Various methods and approaches are used in educational institutions to enhance students’ thinking skills. This article focuses on identifying the achievements of students in chemistry lessons by using problem-based learning technology to foster critical thinking. The study involved 9th-grade stu-dents from the specialized boarding school named after Nurtas Ondasynov in the city of Turkestan. A total of 49 students participated, divided into experimental and control groups. During the study, the author utilized tests to determine the preliminary and subsequent knowledge levels of the students. The results of the tests were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. To fully reveal the levels of criti-cal thinking, critical thinking indicators were employed. This study aimed to identify the essence of a problem by asking students simple questions and using brainstorming techniques. The final test results demonstrated a significant improvement in students’ achievements. The levels of thinking skills were as follows: formulating conclusions – 78.14%, data collection – 70.3%, analysis and evaluation – 51.2%. These indicators highlight the students’ ability to analyze and evaluate the knowledge they have learned and retained. For other indicators, such as summarizing – 73.14%, providing evidence – 66.6%, and independent work skills – 68.57%, the results also showed significant improvement compared to the preliminary tests. The study revealed the effectiveness of organizing chemistry lessons with the correct use of a model of problem-based learning technology.

Background: Science Process Skills (KPS) are crucial in preparing students to meet the challenges of the 4.0 industrial era, emphasizing critical thinking and scientific reasoning from an early age. However, conventional teaching methods without adequate media assistance often result in passive learning environments. Innovative teaching models supported by appropriate media are essential to enhance students' scientific competencies. Objective: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of the Visualization, Auditory, Kinesthetic (VAK) learning model assisted by video media and Prezi software on improving the science process skills of fifth-grade students at MIM PK Kartasura. Method: A quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent pretest-posttest control group was used. The sample consisted of 55 fifth-grade students, divided into two experimental groups: one group was treated with Prezi software, and the other with video media. Data were collected through tests validated for content and construct validity and analyzed using prerequisite tests (normality and homogeneity) followed by hypothesis testing with paired sample t-tests and independent sample t-tests. Results: The findings revealed significant improvements in students’ science process skills in both groups after the interventions. However, the video media group showed a higher increase in average scores compared to the Prezi software group. Statistical analysis indicated that video media was more effective than Prezi software in enhancing students' science process skills. Conclusion: The VAK learning model assisted by video media proved to be more effective in developing the science process skills of elementary students compared to the use of Prezi software. The results suggest that integrating video media into science instruction can significantly enhance critical learning competencies, serving as a valuable reference for educators in designing engaging and effective learning environments.