Using Iterative Group Presentations in an Introductory Biology Course to Enhance Student Engagement and Critical Thinking

2017 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 450-454
Author(s):  
Anna Aguilera ◽  
Jesse Schreier ◽  
Cassandra Saitow
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Introductory Biology ◽  
Group Presentation ◽  
Group Presentations ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Control Section ◽  
Introductory Biology Course ◽  
Class Presentation

In this study, we examined two types of group presentation assignments for use in a large, introductory biology course. Students were placed into groups of 6 to 8 members, and tasked with researching a topic and preparing a 10-minute in-class presentation. The assignments varied by course section; in the control section, each group's topics were selected to complement the course topic, whereas in the iterative sections, each group's topic would derive from the previous group's presentation. Students’ critical thinking skills were assessed before and after the semester's presentations, and exit surveys were conducted. Results show that students in the iterative group performed better than control on exam questions, and overall interest in biology was high in both groups as a result of the presentations. Overall, performing group presentations in an iterative style enhanced learning by mimicking the scientific process of inquiry and discovery.

scholarly journals Guided Inquiry Lab: Its Effect to Improve Student’s Critical Thinking on Mechanics

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-97
Author(s):  
Ade Febri ◽  
Sajidan Sajidan ◽  
Sarwanto Sarwanto ◽  
Dewanto Harjunowibowo
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Guided Inquiry ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

Learning trends in the 21st-century require students to have the ability to sort appropriate information from certain sources. To do this, students must have critical thinking skills. One of the learning models that can facilitate students to think critically is a guided-inquiry lab. Thus, the purpose of this study was to quantitatively analyze the impact of the implementation of the guided-inquiry lab model on students' critical thinking skills on mechanics material. A pre-experimental method employing one group pretest-posttest only design was applied to obtain students' critical thinking skills data before and after the implementation of the guided-inquiry lab model. A total of 32 students from a junior high school in the city of Karanganyar, Central Java, were involved as the samples in this study. The data obtained were then analyzed using N-gain calculations. Based on the data analysis, there are 81.25% of students have medium creative thinking skills after being taught with a guided-inquiry lab, meaning there is an increase in the average score of students after being taught using a guided-inquiry lab model. It can be concluded that the implementation of the guided-inquiry lab model is effective to improve students' critical thinking skills

Don’t Believe Everything About Science Online: Revisiting the Fake Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus in an Introductory Biology College Course

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-163
Author(s):  
Shem Unger ◽  
◽  
Mark Rollins ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Online Media ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Introductory Biology ◽  
College Course ◽  
Critical Skills

Evaluating the veracity and reliability of online media in science is an integral part of developing critical skills in science. Moreover, the 1st year biology courses should provide an avenue for students to acquire these skills for academic success. This study evaluated whether students (n = 90) exposed to an apparently credible website were able to distinguish whether a species existed as part of two short online activities. Surprisingly, a high number of students did not question the species in the initial activity and assumed it was real. However, most as part of the second assessment did report it was false. Some students failed to recognize the species as fake and thought the species was real even after watching a parody or satirical video on YouTube. All students agreed that critical thinking in science was important and the majority of students gave positive feedback on the activity. Potential explanations for students’ inability to adequately assess information included students completing the assignment quickly and lack of further research. This kind of activity is recommended to expose the 1st year biology majors to critical thinking skills and accurate assessment of online information in science.

scholarly journals The effects of critical thinking instruction through asynchronous learning tools on writing

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
Sibel Ayg�n ◽  
Fatih Yavuz
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Asynchronous Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Thinking Disposition ◽  
Experimental Group

In writing classes, besides mastering the language items and writing rhetoric, students are required to use some high order thinking skills to be able to write academically. Hence, this study basically aims to see the effectiveness of the use of critical thinking skills on writing achievements of the Turkish EFL students. The purpose of the study is to see if online critical thinking treatment affects students� use of critical thinking skills in their writings. In addition, students� attitudes towards asynchronous learning tools during the study were observed. At the beginning and end of the study, 16 students in control group and 16 students in experimental group answered the questions in the critical thinking disposition scale. In addition to this, their writing performances were evaluated before and after the study. Meanwhile, experimental group students were exposed to 8-week online critical thinking treatment. The data gathered were statistically analysed and the results indicate that while the students� writing performances do not differ significantly before and after the online critical thinking treatment, it has significantly contributed to the studentS� use of critical thinking skills while writing.

scholarly journals Effect of Differentiated Instruction on the Achievement and Development of Critical Thinking Skills among Sixth-Grade Science Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 77-99
Author(s):  
Mohammad Salih Al-Shehri
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Differentiated Instruction ◽  
Instructional Strategy ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Instructional Program ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Experimental Group

The objective of this study was to explore the effect of using a differentiated instruction method on the achievement and development of critical thinking skills among sixth-grade students in Abha, Saudi Arabia. The study used the experimental method through the application of the instructional program on a sample of 50 students, who were chosen purposefully from one school in Abha city. The sample was divided into an experimental group (n = 25), which received instructions using differentiated instruction, and a control group (n = 25), which received instructions using conventional methods. Two tests were developed, an academic achievement test and a critical thinking test, to measure the performance of students before and after using the instructional program. Findings showed an improvement in the academic performance of the experimental group, which were taught using the instructional program based on differentiated instruction. Participants were able to increase their level of critical thinking skills in science. The study recommends using this instructional strategy in different school subjects other than science. The study also recommends training teachers on its implementation in classrooms.

scholarly journals Reflections On Service-Learning, Critical Thinking, And Cultural Competence

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynette R. Goldberg ◽  
Kathy L. Coufal
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Cultural Competence ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Intellectual Development ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Developmental Trajectory ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After

In today’s increasingly multicultural society, students need to be prepared for the work world they will encounter. Well-developed critical thinking skills appear essential to needed cultural competence. With its focus on community involvement, deep reflection and civic engagement, the possibility that Service-Learning (SL) could improve students’ critical thinking abilities, and thus contribute to students’ intellectual development and cultural competence, was explored. The critical thinking abilities of a group of 4th and 5th year university students were measured before and after 12 weeks of community-based experiences. The 4th year students were involved in an integrated SL course. The 5th year students had completed the SL course the previous year. There was a significant difference between the two groups with the 5th year students better able to think critically, particularly in deducing conclusions and evaluating arguments. Both quantitative and qualitative data from the two groups revealed a non-linear developmental trajectory of skills that provide insights for professionals in higher education.

scholarly journals The Use of Android-Based PhET Simulation as an Effort to Improve Students' Critical Thinking Skills during the Covid-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Faiz Hasyim ◽  
Tjipto Prastowo ◽  
Budi Jatmiko
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
School Students ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Quasi Experimental

<p class="16">Covid-19 spurs teachers to carry out online learning. This study aimed to analyze the improvement of students' critical thinking skills through online learning based on Android-based PhET Simulation. This research was Quasi-Experimental using one group pre-test and post-test design involving 27 students of class VIII who program science subjects at MTs Alif Laam Miim Surabaya, Indonesia. The research instrument used critical thinking skills tests that have met valid and reliable requirements. Before and after learning activities, students were given a pre-test and a post-test. The data collected was analyzed descriptively quantitatively. The results showed that there was an increase in students' critical thinking skills with an average N-gain of 0.57, in the medium category. The highest N-gain was achieved in the "interpretation" indicator, which is 0.83 in the high category and the lowest in the "analysis" indicator, which is 0.39 in the moderate category. This study concluded that learning science by using an Android-based PhET Simulation can improve the critical thinking skills of junior high school students.</p>

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Problem Based Learning (PBL) Based Socioscientific Issue (SSI) to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Muflichatu Nur Fita ◽  
Budi Jatmiko ◽  
Elok Sudibyo
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
T Test ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Innovative Solution

The purpose of this research was to see how effective the Problem Based Learning (PBL) based Socioscientific Issues (SSI) is at improving critical thinking skills. The sample used was grade seven in SMPN 4 Lamongan with 2 classes and each class contains 15 students. The design of the learning materials trial used  One-Group pre-test post-test design. Tests of critical thinking skills and student answer sheets were used to collect data. Techniques of data analysis used N-gain, paired t-test, and independent t-test. The result of this research is as follows: The effectiveness in terms of the critical thinking skills test the category increase is high, there is a significant difference between the test before and after learning with PBL based SSI and there is no difference N-gain in the two group classes and students' responses are classified as very good. Based on data analysis, it can be concluded that PBL with SSI is effective to improve critical thinking skills. The implications of this study are PBL-based SSI has the potential to be an innovative solution and alternative for improving critical thinking skills.

scholarly journals Online Reciprocal Peer Tutoring Approach in Facebook: Measuring Students' Critical Thinking

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (23) ◽  
pp. 16-28
Author(s):  
Nurul Nadwa Zulkifli ◽  
Noor Dayana Abd Halim ◽  
Noraffandy Yahaya ◽  
Henny Van Der Meijden ◽  
Norasykin Mohd Zaid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Peer Tutoring ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
School Of Education ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Reciprocal Peer Tutoring ◽  
Validated Instrument

Critical thinking skills are one of essential employability skills for graduates when entering the workforce. The lack of critical thinking skills among Malaysian graduates is a concern as these skills are important for success in the 21st century. Therefore, this paper aims to study the effects of online reciprocal peer tutoring (RPT) through Facebook discussion on students’ critical thinking. In this study, the online RPT approach in Facebook was used to nurture students to think critically. In RPT, the tutor role is switched between participants in each task, giving equal opportunities to all learners to benefit from the tutor and tutee role. This approach was integrated into their learning for 4 weeks to increase students' critical thinking. During the learning process, they need to involve in 4 critical thinking tasks based on Bloom's taxonomy. 29 undergraduate students from the school of education, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia completed the validated instrument, Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal test (inference, assumption, deduction, interpretation, evaluation arguments) before and after the treatment. The findings show that it is significantly different in making inference (Z=-3.85, p=.000

scholarly journals Effect of Problem-Based Learning and Reasoning Tests on Learners' Critical Thinking Skills Before and After the Educational Intervention in Graduate Students of Basic Sciences

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-43
Author(s):  
Vahideh Zarea Gavgani ◽  
Hakimeh Hazrati ◽  
Zohreh Sohrabi
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Background and Objectives: Critical thinking skills are not learned spontaneously. Higher education system should strengthen critical thinking skills of learners by integrating critical thinking skills into educational programs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of problem-based learning and reasoning tests on strengthening learners' critical thinking skills before and after the educational intervention in graduate students of basic sciences. Material and Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental study that was conducted in 2020 at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and Iran. Participants in the study were graduate students in the fields of medical education and Medical Library and Information Science. Problem-based learning theory and application of reasoning tests in the level of critical thinking of learners before and after the educational intervention; the California Critical Thinking Questionnaire was reviewed. Data analysis was performed using Spss 19 software. Statistical methods such as frequency, percentage and mean standard deviation have been used to study descriptive statistics and the significance level of the data has been investigated using nonparametric Wilcoxon test. Results: The level of critical thinking of students in the field of medical education before the educational intervention was moderate (2.92 ± 9.01) and weak in the field of Medical Library and Information Science (6.80 ± 80.95). After the educational intervention, the level of critical thinking of learners in both disciplines has significantly increased. In the field of analysis, the rate of critical thinking in both disciplines was lower than other domains before the intervention, which was higher than the other domains after the educational intervention. Conclusion:The present study showed that designing effective educational interventions in the fields of teaching and assessment methods lead to strengthening learners' critical thinking skills. By using new methods of evaluation and teaching, the education system can produce graduate students with the competency to create new ideas and novel approaches.

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