scholarly journals The Role of Critical Thinking in Helping Students Cope with Problems

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-217
Author(s):  
Violla Makhzoum ◽  
Lama Komayha
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Private Universities ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
American System ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The University

Purpose: This research study aims to address the role of higher education programs in developing students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, emphasizing on the importance of the university professors’ role in nurturing these skills through the means they use in the classroom. The research also aims to highlight the difference in developing these skills among students between universities that follow the Francophone system and universities that follow the American system. Approach/Methodology/Design: To achieve the goal of this research, a descriptive approach was adopted to test the validity of the research hypotheses which are based on correlations between research variables related to higher education programs and the skill of critical thinking. A questionnaire was employed to collect data from the sample, which consisted of four private universities, divided into two groups which are two private universities that follow the American system, and two private universities that follow the Francophone system. The sample consisted of 120 students from universities that follow the American system, and 132 students from universities that follow the Francophone system. The students were selected from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. Findings: It was found out that there are statistically significant differences between the students’ answers regarding the extent of their ability to possess the skills of critical thinking and problem-solving in concerning to the universities in which they study, and we have also found that there are statistically significant differences in the student’s acquisition of these skills between the programs of Francophone and American universities according to their demographic characteristics and majors. Practical Implications: The study will be of great use for concerned authorities, emphasizing on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Originality/value: The findings revealed a significant correlation between university programs and critical thinking and problem solving skills.

scholarly journals On the Study of Higher Education in Canadian Universities

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 96-114
Author(s):  
Michael L. Skolnik
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Canadian Universities ◽  
Higher Education Journals ◽  
Canadian Higher Education ◽  
Limited Scale ◽  
Student Demand ◽  
The University

Although research on Canadian higher education has advanced considerably over the past few decades, the opportunities for university level study of higher education in Canada are still quite limited. Only four universities offer higher education programs; only one has a higher education department; and only a handful of other institutions offer even a course in higher education. The number of students enrolled in higher education programs in Canada is about 200, compared to about 6,000 in the United States; the number of faculty about 15 compared to 700 in the U.S. Moreover, while American higher education journals have, since the early 1970's, regularly featured articles about university higher education programs, there has not been a single article on this subject in The Canadian Journal of Higher Education. This paper attempts to fill some of that gap by providing some basic information about the study of higher education in Canadian universities and by examining the role of these programs in the overall development of higher education research and the possible reasons for the very limited scale of such programs in Canada. The author's conclusion is that the factor which has most limited the development of higher education studies in Canadian universities is neither insufficient student demand nor limited employment opportunities of graduates, but reluctance of Canadian universities to allocate resources for this area of study. This reluctance is attributed to the combination of the low prestige of higher education as a field of study and the lack of a strong lobby for this program area outside the university. It is suggested that - in contrast to their American counterparts - presently Canadian higher education programs have less than the minimum resources necessary to make the advances that would be required to overcome this "prestige barrier".

The Role of Technology in Providing Effective Gifted Education Services in Clustered Classrooms

2016 ◽  
pp. 550-568
Author(s):  
Geri Collins ◽  
Jeffrey Hall ◽  
Bridget Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Educational Opportunities ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Content Areas ◽  
Education Services

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the rationale of clustered classrooms and to explore methods of using technology to enhance the educational outcomes of gifted students in clustered classrooms. The need for this training is great because clustered classrooms can help teachers overcome the problems associated with mixed-ability groupings, tight budgets, and accusations of elitism that often plague gifted education services (Brulles & Winebrenner, 2012). The chapter includes research-based strategies for facilitating clustered classrooms, provides ideas for incorporating technology across multiple content areas, identifies what exemplary student products should look like, and offers a sample lesson plan that can be adapted to cultivate problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and collaboration in a clustered classroom. By highlighting and examining these issues, the authors hope that more teachers will utilize the clustered classroom model, providing outstanding educational opportunities that can benefit all students.

scholarly journals The Importance of Soft Skills Development to Enhance Entrepreneurial Capacity

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Sarom Tem ◽  
Ariyabhorn Kuroda ◽  
Keow Ngang Tang
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Skills Development ◽  
Entrepreneurial Success ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Individual Personality ◽  
Successful Entrepreneurs

Soft skills development has come with the intention of an all-rounded development of individual personality and entrepreneurship can be taught or not has been an argument until today. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the importance of soft skills to enhance entrepreneurial capacity. The three key soft skills that researchers examined were communication, leadership, and critical and problem-solving skills while the entrepreneurial capacity was the dependent variable of this study. A total of five successful entrepreneurs were purposively selected to be the informants of this study. Researchers employed a qualitative method using interview protocol as an instrument to conduct in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The results revealed that critical thinking and problem-solving skills is the most significant soft skills to assist entrepreneurs to improve their competitiveness and productivity. Moreover, all the informants came to the consensus that higher education should teach the students the three required soft skills to be successful entrepreneurs. They emphasized the importance of soft skills that can assist entrepreneurs not only to compete in the formal labor market but also has the potential to reduce youth unemployment, drive economic growth, and reduce poverty. The overall results are successfully contributed to a growing body of research by suggesting that soft skills, namely communication, leadership, and critical thinking and problem-solving skills associated with entrepreneurial success are malleable and can be trained through higher education institutions.

scholarly journals Factors essential for successful and sustainable e-learning

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayanda Pamella Deliwe
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
South African ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The Difference

E-Learning has been viewed as a positive initiative in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), as it is said to improve opportunities for critical thinking, develops better problem solving abilities and assists in improvement of productivity and efficiency of employees. For HEIs to benefit from the advantages of e-learning there needs to be continuous research done on how best can HEIs ensure that there is successful and sustainable e-learning. Secondary data literature was reviewed and in collecting primary data six participants from one of the South African HEIs (UKZN) were interviewed. Information gathered through primary data collection was in line with the information obtained from literature. The difference was when the primary data revealed additional factors which are essential for successful and sustainable e-learning. These includes the importance of finances and regular discussions and engagements with champions/experts and research in the field of e-learning. Most of the literature highlights the importance of engagements with students, faculty and academic staff and not much emphases is placed on engagement with all stakeholders. This paper concluded by providing recommendations which needs to been considered by HEIs on how best they can achieve successful and sustainable e-learning.

scholarly journals Facilitating learning of community-based rehabilitation through problem-based learning in higher education

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Yin-han Chung
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Real World ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Community Based Rehabilitation

Abstract Background The quality of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) personnel is one of the key factors that contributes to the success of CBR programs. Integrating knowledge and practical skills in various stages of the learning process is essential in community-based rehabilitation. Problem-based learning (PBL) is a pedagogical strategy that uses real-world situations as the basis for developing knowledge and problem-solving skills. Through PBL, learners are guided and facilitated in assuming active problem-solving roles in real-world situations. This study developed and tested a framework and a PBL protocol for use in teaching community-based rehabilitation (CBR) in higher education. Methods Part I of this study focused on the development of a framework and a protocol for PBL. An initial framework for the development of this protocol was formed based on a review of relevant literature. Concrete guidelines were delineated to describe the application, process, and delivery of teaching and learning. PBL was implemented in three CBR related courses. Students were facilitated to learn CBR in passing various stages of PBL through a self-directed learning process. The cumulative efforts of each group were compiled, recorded, and displayed using e-portfolios. In Part II, the processes and outcomes of using this new learning mode were evaluated using a case study approach to examine the protocol’s efficacy. Focus group interviews, a questionnaire, and a detailed examination of the e-portfolios were administered for evaluation. Results One hundred thirty-three students from three CBR related courses were recruited. PBL was regarded as an effective, realistic and practical method that enables critical thinking in CBR. Practicality was addressed by covering context-related materials with the use of real cases or examples. Participants were actively engaged in the learning process and their CBR competence was enhanced. Conclusions Through the new protocol, the students were equipped with active learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that should facilitate success in CBR.

The Role of Technology in Providing Effective Gifted Education Services in Clustered Classrooms

2015 ◽  
pp. 411-435
Author(s):  
Geri Collins ◽  
Jeffrey Hall ◽  
Bridget Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Educational Opportunities ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Content Areas ◽  
Education Services

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the rationale of clustered classrooms and to explore methods of using technology to enhance the educational outcomes of gifted students in clustered classrooms. The need for this training is great because clustered classrooms can help teachers overcome the problems associated with mixed-ability groupings, tight budgets, and accusations of elitism that often plague gifted education services (Brulles & Winebrenner, 2012). The chapter includes research-based strategies for facilitating clustered classrooms, provides ideas for incorporating technology across multiple content areas, identifies what exemplary student products should look like, and offers a sample lesson plan that can be adapted to cultivate problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and collaboration in a clustered classroom. By highlighting and examining these issues, the authors hope that more teachers will utilize the clustered classroom model, providing outstanding educational opportunities that can benefit all students.

scholarly journals What makes the difference – PIAAC as a resource for understanding the problem-solving skills of Europe's higher-education adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 129 ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raija Hämäläinen ◽  
Bram De Wever ◽  
Kari Nissinen ◽  
Sebastiano Cincinnato
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
The Difference

Going Remote during COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects of Problem-Based Learning towards Improving Students' Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 2342-2356
Author(s):  
Low Kah Choon Et.al
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
The Other ◽  
Learning Mechanisms ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Remote Learning

COVID-19 pandemic spreading all around the world, the higher learning institutions were forced to shut or limit the person in contact to control the spread of diseases. Under this circumstance, remote learning that emphasized learning via online setting embraced in higher education to replace the physical classroom during the pandemic time. This study designed a single Problem-Based Learning (PBL) module using remote learning to examine the students experience in PBL, and to what extent the PBL module helps students to improve their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The remote learning PBL module conducted using reflection method to assess the students' experiences in PBL learning. On the other hand, a set of survey questionnaires was distributed to 34 undergraduate students to gather the responses for the assessment of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative analysis to investigate the students’ critical thinking, problem-solving skills and their experience in remote learning PBL. Using paired sample t-test to test the difference between pre- and post- remote learning PBL class, results indicated that there was a significant improvement of students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills after remote learning PBL class. On the other hand, thematic analysis on students’ feedback on remote learning PBL class- first, second, and third meeting, indicated that students gradually improved their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Although students implied positive feedback on the class, however, some of them were facing difficulties in understanding the module or physical disruptions that distract their learning. The findings gave insights for the lecturers to design a suitable learning course during the pandemic time. Moreover, the findings highlighted challenges that gave insights for the lecturers to look at the students’ feedback from time to time to improve the learning mechanisms and to create a better learning environment.

VoiceThread

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 68-78
Author(s):  
Yingqi Tang
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Virtual Classroom ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Problem Solving Skills

Collaborative learning allows students to share diverse ideas, resources, and experiences. Studies have shown that students engaged in collaborative learning are more likely to achieve, and exhibit increased critical thinking and problem-solving skills. However, in an online course class, students receive very little human interaction because most of the communication is via text. This article overviews how VoiceThread, a cloud-based web 2.0 application, has been used in primary, secondary, and higher education institutions for enhancing discussion in traditional and virtual classroom. From there, actionable class content with a focus on teaching students' information literacy is provided. This article also shared technique parameters of VoiceThread, as well as some notes of using VoiceThread application.

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