An “intelligent” program to teach logical thinking skills

Using On-line Discussion to Teach Critical Thinking Skills in an Adult Workplace Literacy Program

This paper describes an instructional approach designed to teach adults in a workplace training program strategies for communicating in an electronic context. Students used an on-line discussion group to respond to cases that were relevant to their experiences of seeking and preparing for employment. A scaffolded teaching approach was used whereby students were taught to explain or express a vi...

Using Argument Diagramming Software to Teach Critical Thinking Skills

There is substantial evidence from many domains that visual representations aid various forms of cognition. We aimed to determine whether visual representations of argument structure enhanced the acquisition and development of critical thinking skills within the context of an introductory philosophy course. We found a significant effect of the use of argument diagrams, and this effect was stabl...

A Logical Basis for Measuring Critical Thinking Skills

How to . . . Teach practical skills

Practical skills teaching in medicine has traditionally been based on the principles of ‘see one, do one, teach one’. Healthcare professionals learn a wide range of practical skills over the years – from basic skills such as suturing a skin wound or the incision and draining of an abscess, to undertaking more complex technical procedures in theatre, such as appendectomy. But to what extent is t...

From Thinking Skills to Thinking Classrooms

In October 1998 The Department for Education and Employment commissioned a review and evaluation of research into thinking skills and related areas. The purpose of the review was to analyse what is currently understood by the term “thinking skills” and their role in the learning process; to identify approaches to developing children’s thinking and to evaluate their effectiveness; to consider ho...