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Critical thinking

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Full-Text Articles in Education

1, 2, 3: Counting On Problem Based Learning To Improve Mathematical Achievement In African American Students, Kelley P. Spahr Jul 2023

1, 2, 3: Counting On Problem Based Learning To Improve Mathematical Achievement In African American Students, Kelley P. Spahr

Theses and Dissertations

Mathematics is an important component of our everyday lives. It involves necessary skills, such as computation, problem solving, and critical thinking. In spite of this, a significant portion of our students are unable to demonstrate proficiency. These students are typically the underserved, marginalized students who are over represented in remedial classes and behavioral statistics (Gibson, 2022; Harper, 2010, 2021; Zilanawala, et al., 2018). This research study presented two instructional interventions, culturally relevant pedagogy and problem-based learning, to examine the impact of self-efficacy, critical thinking, and mathematical achievement. This study utilized a mixed-methods triangulation design. The participants of this study were …


Improving Assessment Outcomes In Algebra And Functions Through Concrete Materials And Direct Instruction, Sandra Deacon, Courtney Pillers May 2022

Improving Assessment Outcomes In Algebra And Functions Through Concrete Materials And Direct Instruction, Sandra Deacon, Courtney Pillers

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Critical thinking consists of the mental processes, strategies, and representations individuals use to solve problems, make decisions, and learn new concepts. We observed our 6th-year students struggling with algebra functions and problem-solving. These observations motivated us to engage in active research to improve the students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We administered interventions that supported the language transfer between traditional mathematical language and Montessori mathematical terms. We utilized direct instruction with concrete algebra materials to lead the students to abstract work in algebra. We also used formal assessments and observations to decide what lessons the students should get next. Our …


Culturally Responsive Pedagogy And Writing Achievement For Native High School Students, Angelia Christine Greiner Dec 2020

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy And Writing Achievement For Native High School Students, Angelia Christine Greiner

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the effects of culturally responsive pedagogy as it is implemented in a high school classroom with Native American students. This mixed methods case study collects, analyzes and synthesizes both quantitative and qualitative data within an overall formative and experimental design approach to measure the effects of culturally responsive pedagogy on students’ writing and their attitudes about writing. The study identified specific approaches to literacy instruction that hold promise for engaging Native students. Furthermore, findings from the study reveal the use of visual art as a particularly powerful tool that extends students’ meaning-making skills, leading to more …


Is Critical Thinking Really Critical? A Research Study Of The Intentional Planning For The Teaching Of Critical Thinking In The Middle Grades, Michelle Smith Jun 2020

Is Critical Thinking Really Critical? A Research Study Of The Intentional Planning For The Teaching Of Critical Thinking In The Middle Grades, Michelle Smith

Dissertations

Critical thinking is an integral part of human life. However, it is not intentionally planned for and implemented in most public educational institutions. Due to this lack of planning, not everyone thinks critically. Critical thinking is a skill that must be fostered and developed over a period for it to be applied consistently. Individuals who exhibit critical thinking are increasingly likely to be successful in life.

This study focused on the teaching of critical thinking and was conducted at Wildcat Middle School, located in a suburb of Chicago, IL. The research examined the extent to which teachers intentionally planned for …


An Analysis Of The Higher Order Thinking Requirements Of Parcc Practice Assessments In Grades 3 And 4, Leslie A. Solis-Stovall May 2020

An Analysis Of The Higher Order Thinking Requirements Of Parcc Practice Assessments In Grades 3 And 4, Leslie A. Solis-Stovall

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

This mixed methods study aimed to categorize and analyze the frequencies and percentages of complex thinking in the PARCC practices assessments grades 3 and 4. The Hess’ Cognitive Rigor Matrix was employed for the first part of the study to code each of the PARCC assessment questions in Language Arts and Mathematics Grades 3 and 4 based on pre-existing codes. Deductive category application was utilized to connect the language from Hess’ Cognitive Rigor Matrix to the language of the questions in the tests. To ensure reliability we utilized the double-rater read behind method as in other similar studies. In …


The Type Of Questions Being Promoted In A 10th Grade Social Studies Textbook, Christie A. Vanderhook Feb 2020

The Type Of Questions Being Promoted In A 10th Grade Social Studies Textbook, Christie A. Vanderhook

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The importance of questioning is a crucial skill for the 21st century learner. The importance of having questioning designed to develop higher order thinking is critical. Much of today’s educational research notes the importance of the competitive skills and knowledge students must obtain in order to be successful academically in college entry courses, in vocational training programs, and ultimately, when navigating the real world. Questioning within the classroom setting can help students develop critical thinking ideas, scaffold classroom discussions, and guide students to an advanced level of cognition. Through the skillful art of questioning, teachers can establish students’ prior knowledge …


Me, Myself, And I: The Impact Of Metacognitive Strategies On Student Locus Of Control And Critical Thinking Skills, Danielle Kuchler Jan 2020

Me, Myself, And I: The Impact Of Metacognitive Strategies On Student Locus Of Control And Critical Thinking Skills, Danielle Kuchler

All Master's Theses

We live in an era when a college degree is essentially required for entry into good-paying careers, and yet achievement of a college degree is unacceptably low. Only 60% of students who enroll go on to graduate from 4-year colleges and universities in 6 years or fewer (National Center for Higher Education 2018). Why is this happening? What are the long-term intellectual and economic implications of ill-prepared students? We must ask ourselves if students are really prepared with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be successful in college and whether those attributes are developed while in college. Two of the …


Estado Del Arte Sobre Pensamiento Crítico Y Estrategias Didácticas En Aulas Universitarias De Colombia Periodo 2013-2018, Diego Alejandro Santamaría Pilonieta, Laura Katherine Espitia Mateus Jan 2019

Estado Del Arte Sobre Pensamiento Crítico Y Estrategias Didácticas En Aulas Universitarias De Colombia Periodo 2013-2018, Diego Alejandro Santamaría Pilonieta, Laura Katherine Espitia Mateus

Licenciatura en Español y Lenguas Extranjeras

El presente artículo pretende determinar los mecanismos a través de los cuales se promueve el pensamiento crítico en las universidades del país. Este dilema surge del interés por corroborar que las estrategias didácticas propuestas en el aula fomentan el desarrollo de habilidades de pensamiento crítico, pues en ocasiones la carencia de lineamientos claros de aplicación y medición no permite ratificar la implicación que las habilidades críticas suponen dentro del proceso formativo para el desarrollo social. Así, se propone como incógnita y objetivo general describir de qué manera se fomenta el pensamiento crítico en las aulas universitarias de Colombia; para lograrlo …


El Taller Como Herramienta Para La Potencialización Del Pensamiento Crítico Por Medio Del Enfoque Accional En Lengua Inglesa En Estudiantes De Grado Undécimo Del Colegio Bilingüe Ciudad Montes De Bogotá, Daniel Esteban Gómez Velandia, Juan Camilo Moreno Sanabria Jan 2019

El Taller Como Herramienta Para La Potencialización Del Pensamiento Crítico Por Medio Del Enfoque Accional En Lengua Inglesa En Estudiantes De Grado Undécimo Del Colegio Bilingüe Ciudad Montes De Bogotá, Daniel Esteban Gómez Velandia, Juan Camilo Moreno Sanabria

Maestría en Didáctica de las Lenguas

Esta investigación se centra en exponer el impacto de la implementación de un taller realmente pensado desde el enfoque accional en función de la potencialización del pensamiento crítico en inglés de los estudiantes de grado undécimo del Colegio Bilingüe Ciudad Montes de Bogotá. Surge mediante un proceso de investigación-acción que se encuentra en dos ciclos de intervención que posibilita la consolidación del taller: ¡Pensando críticamente !, con el cual se pudo contrastar la percepción de los estudiantes frente a su utilidad antes y después de su implementación, establecer la incidencia del enfoque accional como fundamento del taller e identificar los …


Utilizing Technology To Leverage The Improvement Of 21st Century Skills, Jon Reker Jan 2019

Utilizing Technology To Leverage The Improvement Of 21st Century Skills, Jon Reker

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As technology integration becomes the norm in society, the field of education must adapt to the usage of technology, to prepare future citizens in the workforce. Educators can use a framework of 21st-century skills, to assess if they are preparing students how to leverage technology capabilities. There are questions related to the effectiveness of technology in developing higher level thinking skills or if the information and communication technologies need to be taught explicitly to digital natives that have grown up immersed in technology. Many researchers are seeking to find ways to integrate 21st-century skills into curriculum and content areas, along …


Propuesta Didáctica Una Caja De Herramientas Para La Formación En Pensamiento Crítico Y La Resolución De Conflictos De Convivencia Escolar En Estudiantes De Grado 6° Del Colegio José María Carbonell Ied, Fredy Alfonso Cifuentes Rodríguez, Julieth Carolina Rivera Niño, Laura Andrea Sierra Téllez Jan 2019

Propuesta Didáctica Una Caja De Herramientas Para La Formación En Pensamiento Crítico Y La Resolución De Conflictos De Convivencia Escolar En Estudiantes De Grado 6° Del Colegio José María Carbonell Ied, Fredy Alfonso Cifuentes Rodríguez, Julieth Carolina Rivera Niño, Laura Andrea Sierra Téllez

Maestría en Docencia

La investigación considerada "Propuesta didáctica de manera de caja de herramientas para la formación en pensamiento crítico para la resolución de conflictos de convivencia escolar en estudiantes de grado 6 ° del colegio José María Carbonell IED", se inscribe en el macroproyecto de la Maestría en Docencia de la facultad de ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de La Salle, en la línea de investigación pensamiento crítico; quirúrgico ya que en la práctica cotidiana realizada con estudiantes de grado 6 °, se evidencian cierto tipo de comportamientos, situaciones y problemas que influyen en su desarrollo integral, además están afectando …


De La Individualización Al Sentido De Comunidad. Propuesta De Pensamiento Crítico Con Estudiantes De Básica Secundaria Del Liceo Hermano Miguel La Salle Y La Institución Educativa Las Villas, Adriana Milena Bedoya Conde, Edith Rocío Silva Mora, Sebastián Guillermo Borbón De Narváez Jan 2019

De La Individualización Al Sentido De Comunidad. Propuesta De Pensamiento Crítico Con Estudiantes De Básica Secundaria Del Liceo Hermano Miguel La Salle Y La Institución Educativa Las Villas, Adriana Milena Bedoya Conde, Edith Rocío Silva Mora, Sebastián Guillermo Borbón De Narváez

Maestría en Docencia

El presente informe comparte el proceso investigativo realizado en el marco de la Maestría en Docencia de la Universidad de La Salle y el desarrollo del macroproyecto “pensamiento crítico y educación”. La problemática existente en las relaciones sociales individualizadas predominantes, caracterizadas por unas prácticas competitivas y egoístas dentro y fuera de la escuela, poco contribuyen a la construcción de un sentido de comunidad, aspecto que constituye el punto de partida del estudio de esta investigación, la cual trae consigo la formación del sentido de comunidad con estudiantes de básica secundaria del Liceo Hermano Miguel La Salle de la ciudad de …


El Cortometraje: Una Herramienta Para El Desarrollo Del Pensamiento Crítico En Niños De Ciclo Dos Del Colegio Kennedy Ied, Mónica María Acosta González, Luisa Fernanda Velásquez Gaviria Jan 2019

El Cortometraje: Una Herramienta Para El Desarrollo Del Pensamiento Crítico En Niños De Ciclo Dos Del Colegio Kennedy Ied, Mónica María Acosta González, Luisa Fernanda Velásquez Gaviria

Maestría en Docencia

En esta investigación cualitativa se considera el texto audiovisual - cortometraje como herramienta que contribuye al desarrollo del pensamiento crítico en niños de ciclo dos del Colegio Kennedy IED y se empleó el método de investigación-acción en modalidad práctica-deliberativa. Las técnicas de recolección aplicadas fueron 38 observaciones participantes con 63 estudiantes de ciclo dos (con una guía de observación semiestructurada como instrumento); cuatro entrevistas semiestructuradas aplicadas a dos docentes de tercero y cuarto de primaria, a un directivo docente y un experto en creación audiovisual; además de tres entrevistas semiestructuradas grupales a estudiantes (con un guion de entrevista como instrumento) …


Estrategias Pedagógicas Para El Desarrollo Del Pensamiento Crítico Y Creativo A Través Del Arte, María Cristina Borrero Hermida Jan 2019

Estrategias Pedagógicas Para El Desarrollo Del Pensamiento Crítico Y Creativo A Través Del Arte, María Cristina Borrero Hermida

Doctorado en Educación y Sociedad

Este trabajo de investigación representa una mirada analítica, crítica y propositiva sobre la posibilidad de construir metodologías pedagógicas para el desarrollo del pensamiento crítico y creativo de los estudiantes, desde el saber propio de la educación artística, con un acento especial colocado en la incorporación de las TIC en la educación básica. Es una investigación que describe e interpreta las particularidades de un modelo pedagógico en educación básica y media en el cual el arte es un componente esencial del proceso educativo para desarrollar la capacidad imaginativa, simbólica y transformadora con fundamentos en los lenguajes artísticos en el teatro, la …


El Pensamiento Crítico: Un Camino Al Empoderamiento De Los Consejos Estudiantiles De Los Colegios Guillermo León Valencia Ied Y Altamira Sur Oriental Ied, Gloria Velqui Peña Murcia, Astrid Magierly Rodríguez Casallas Jan 2019

El Pensamiento Crítico: Un Camino Al Empoderamiento De Los Consejos Estudiantiles De Los Colegios Guillermo León Valencia Ied Y Altamira Sur Oriental Ied, Gloria Velqui Peña Murcia, Astrid Magierly Rodríguez Casallas

Maestría en Docencia

La investigación surge al identificar la pasividad de los consejeros estudiantiles de dos instituciones educativas, su implicación para la escuela y los procesos democráticos del país. Ante esto, las docentes evaluaron una investigación para contribuir en la formación del pensamiento crítico en los consejeros estudiantiles de los colegios Guillermo León Valencia y Altamira Sur oriental de la ciudad de Bogotá. En la metodología de la investigación se asumió como paradigma la teoría crítica, en el tipo de investigación cualitativa y como método la investigación-acción en metodología crítica-emancipadora. Se recogió la información a través de la técnica conversacional utilizando la entrevista …


Mediación Pedagógica De Los Docentes De Ciclo V Que Promueven El Desarrollo Del Pensamiento Crítico A Partir De La Escritura Del Ensayo Académico En El Colegio Villas Del Progreso Ied, John Jairo Castañeda Aldana, Estefant Viviana Reyes Gómez Jan 2019

Mediación Pedagógica De Los Docentes De Ciclo V Que Promueven El Desarrollo Del Pensamiento Crítico A Partir De La Escritura Del Ensayo Académico En El Colegio Villas Del Progreso Ied, John Jairo Castañeda Aldana, Estefant Viviana Reyes Gómez

Maestría en Docencia

El principal propósito de la investigación fue el de contribuir a la escritura de ensayos académicos en los estudiantes de grado décimo y once a través de la mediación pedagógica de los docentes de diferentes asignaturas para desarrollar habilidades y disposiciones propias del pensamiento crítico. Desde el punto de vista metodológico se optó por el enfoque cualitativo, con el método investigación-acción bajo el modelo de Kemmis y Mc Taggart (1988), para eso, se tuvieron en cuenta dos técnicas de recolección de datos: Entrevista semiestructurada y la observación participante, con los instrumentos guion de preguntas y toma de notas; se aplicó …


La Conversación Instruccional Para Fomentar El Pensamiento Crítico En El Aula De Inglés En Grado Undécimo En La Institución Educativa Antonio Nariño En Nunchía, Casanare, Lina Deiby Cardenas, Daniel Josue Chinchilla Torres, Alba Juliana Tiuso Hernández Jan 2019

La Conversación Instruccional Para Fomentar El Pensamiento Crítico En El Aula De Inglés En Grado Undécimo En La Institución Educativa Antonio Nariño En Nunchía, Casanare, Lina Deiby Cardenas, Daniel Josue Chinchilla Torres, Alba Juliana Tiuso Hernández

Maestría en Didáctica de las Lenguas

La presente investigación se realizó en la sede central de la Institución Educativa Antonio Nariño del municipio de Nunchía-Casanare. El objetivo fue analizar la implementación de la conversación instruccional para el desarrollo de un nivel inicial de pensamiento crítico expresado en inglés en grado undécimo. El problema que aborda este estudio es la falta de una estrategia didáctica para desarrollar el pensamiento crítico. Por lo anterior, se diseñó una propuesta a partir de la conversación instruccional, la cual se aplicó y sobre la que se analiza los alcances como estrategia didáctica en el fomento del pensamiento crítico. Esta investigación cualitativa …


Exploring Higher Order Thinking Strategies In Georgia's Top Performing Middle Schools, Karen Kister Jan 2019

Exploring Higher Order Thinking Strategies In Georgia's Top Performing Middle Schools, Karen Kister

Ed.D. Dissertations

Developmental psychologists defined adolescent cognitive development as a period of time when individuals learn to mentally separate from adults and establish a self‑sufficient identity capable of the autonomous thought necessary to apply higher-order thinking. In contrast, college professors of the millennial generation stated that students demonstrate increased immaturity levels inconsistent with those of prior generations. Hence, the focus of this study was to examine the higher-order thinking strategies that teachers of adolescents have implemented within the five top performing middle schools in the state of Georgia. The findings offered a potential coexistence of higher-order thinking abilities and autonomous behavior and …


Habilidades De Pensamiento Crítico Y Estrategias De Lectura Crítica En Docentes Y Estudiantes Del Colegio Menorah: Estudio De Caso, Cristian Camilo Callejas Saldarriaga, Laura Vanessa Cuellar Martin, Andrea Ocampo Ocampo Jan 2019

Habilidades De Pensamiento Crítico Y Estrategias De Lectura Crítica En Docentes Y Estudiantes Del Colegio Menorah: Estudio De Caso, Cristian Camilo Callejas Saldarriaga, Laura Vanessa Cuellar Martin, Andrea Ocampo Ocampo

Licenciatura en Español y Lenguas Extranjeras

Investigación cualitativa que se realizó como un estudio de caso intrínseco, ya que este método nos permitió centrarnos en examinar a profundidad las dinámicas del fenómeno de lectura crítica en un grupo particular de individuos y ampliar nuestro conocimiento sobre dicho nivel de lectura. Durante la práctica pedagógica, mediante un curso de lectura crítica con seis (6) estudiantes de grado décimo del Colegio Técnico Menorah IED, identificamos dificultades relacionadas con las habilidades de pensamiento crítico y las estrategias de lectura crítica de las estudiantes, así como también la importancia del rol docente en estos procesos. Datos que fueron recopilados a …


Pensamiento Crítico Y Escritura: Un Análisis Documental En El Contexto Educativo Latinoamericano, Diana Rocío Debia Mendieta, Herimey Hennessey Ramírez, Andrea Mesa Mojica, Lina Paola Quete Alarcón Jan 2019

Pensamiento Crítico Y Escritura: Un Análisis Documental En El Contexto Educativo Latinoamericano, Diana Rocío Debia Mendieta, Herimey Hennessey Ramírez, Andrea Mesa Mojica, Lina Paola Quete Alarcón

Licenciatura en Español y Lenguas Extranjeras

Este artículo recoge los hallazgos de una investigación que surge al interior del Semillero AGLAIA y se constituye en un aporte a la consolidación de un estado del arte del estudio denominado Sistematización de experiencias de formación docente en programas y escenarios educativos orientados hacia el desarrollo de pensamiento crítico con profesores en formación y en ejercicio, adelantado por un equipo de investigadores del grupo de trabajo de CLACSO de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación. En ese marco y teniendo en cuenta la necesidad de indagar sobre las investigaciones ligadas al estudio de la escritura para la formación …


Developing Musicianship And 21st Century Learning Skills Using The Lisk “Creative Director” Series, Thomas Reynolds Oct 2018

Developing Musicianship And 21st Century Learning Skills Using The Lisk “Creative Director” Series, Thomas Reynolds

Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT

DEVELOPING MUSICIANSHIP AND 21st CENTURY LEARNING SKILLS USING THE LISK “CREATIVE DIRECTOR” SERIES SEPTEMBER 2018 THOMAS E. REYNOLDS, B.M.E., NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC M.M.E. ITHACA COLLEGE Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Sara K. Jones The Edward S. Lisk “Creative Director” pedagogical techniques have been found to be invaluable in the instrumental music classroom for teaching overall musicianship skills. As educators address the teaching of 21st century learning skills through all of the academic disciplines, many of the Lisk techniques for teaching overall musicianship skills also foster the teaching of 21st century learning …


Pensamiento Crítico Y Habilidades Cognitivas: Un Análisis Documental En El Contexto Educativo Latinoamericano, Diana Carolina López Jara, Lina Paola Sánchez Perdomo, Sofía Herrera Sánchez Jan 2018

Pensamiento Crítico Y Habilidades Cognitivas: Un Análisis Documental En El Contexto Educativo Latinoamericano, Diana Carolina López Jara, Lina Paola Sánchez Perdomo, Sofía Herrera Sánchez

Licenciatura en Español y Lenguas Extranjeras

El presente trabajo surge al interior del Semillero AGLAIA y se constituye en un aporte a la consolidación de un estado del arte del estudio denominado Sistematización de experiencias de formación docente en programas y escenarios educativos orientados hacia el desarrollo de pensamiento crítico con profesores en formación y en ejercicio, adelantado por un equipo de investigadores del grupo de trabajo de CLACSO de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación. Sobre esa base, el objetivo general de la investigación es la realización de un análisis documental, cuyo propósito se enfoca en describir las tendencias de investigación sobre el estudio …


A Study Of Rigor, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Student Achievement In Three High Schools In A Rural School District In Eastern North Carolina, Katrina Hannon Cobb Jan 2018

A Study Of Rigor, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Student Achievement In Three High Schools In A Rural School District In Eastern North Carolina, Katrina Hannon Cobb

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the importance of rigor and teacher efficacy in relation to student achievement. There are several definitions of the word rigor. Blackburn (2008) defined rigor as “An environment in which each student is expected to learn at high levels, each student is supported so he or she can learn at high levels, and each student demonstrates learning at high levels” (p. 16). ACT/SAT data, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE), and the High School Reform and Work all conclude that students who are college and career ready have graduated …


A Study Of The Impact Of Small-Group And Whole-Group Discussion On The Critical Thinking Dispositions Of Community College English Composition Ii Students, Mechel M. Albano Oct 2017

A Study Of The Impact Of Small-Group And Whole-Group Discussion On The Critical Thinking Dispositions Of Community College English Composition Ii Students, Mechel M. Albano

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The area of critical thinking skills has been one of concern for many professionals working in the field of higher education (Nicholas & Raider-Roth, 2016; Shim & Walczak, 2012). The purpose of this study was to provide these professionals with sound pedagogical tools that can be used to assist college students in developing their critical thinking skills and dispositions. Using a sample of 34 English Composition II students from a community college in the Southeast, the researcher employed a pre-test/post-test comparison group design to compare the effects of small-group discussion of higher-order questions to the effects of whole-group discussion on …


How Do Teachers Challenge Neoliberalism Through Critical Pedagogy Within And Outside Of The Classroom?, Rezvan Shahsavari-Googhari Aug 2017

How Do Teachers Challenge Neoliberalism Through Critical Pedagogy Within And Outside Of The Classroom?, Rezvan Shahsavari-Googhari

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis uses the qualitative case study approach to investigate current strategies and skills four Ontario public secondary school teachers apply both within and outside of the classroom to enhance students’ critical consciousness. The focus is on teachers’ pedagogical work in the era of neoliberal restructuring in order to provide a rich account of how neoliberalism challenges and affects their teaching. Existing literature shows a crisis of identity and political agency among youth in many Western societies, characterized by individuals’ inability to think critically about social, political and economic issues, which is rooted in neoliberal education reforms. Adopting a critical …


A Measure Of Soft Skill Gains Acquisition With Engagement In Baccalaureate Nursing Programs, Wendy J. Williams-Buenzli May 2015

A Measure Of Soft Skill Gains Acquisition With Engagement In Baccalaureate Nursing Programs, Wendy J. Williams-Buenzli

Dissertations

This dissertation examined soft skill acquisition from engagement in baccalaureate nursing programs. Baccalaureate nursing programs prepare nurses to be the future leaders of nursing practice. Soft skills include critical thinking, interpersonal communications, and ethical decision-making. To explore the acquisition of soft skills, this research study analyzed data from the National Survey of Student Engagement to explore for gains in critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and critical thinking. After gains scores were identified, then correlations were run to identify key engagement indicators. The findings of the study found gains in soft skill behaviors from freshman year to senior year of baccalaureate education. …


How Do Middle School Core Content Area Teachers In A Title 1 School Use Cooperative Learning In The Context Of High Accountability For Student Proficiency: A Multiple Case Study, Martha Cunigan-Wells Dec 2014

How Do Middle School Core Content Area Teachers In A Title 1 School Use Cooperative Learning In The Context Of High Accountability For Student Proficiency: A Multiple Case Study, Martha Cunigan-Wells

Dissertations

This action research case study describes how content area teachers in a middle school with low reading achievement levels utilize cooperative learning and curriculum integration (with a focus on the integration of literacy skills and thinking skills) in their content area given the current context of accountability for student mastery of tested core content outcomes. The participants were four urban middle school teachers from the core areas of science, social studies, mathematics, and language arts who had varying levels of training and experience with cooperative learning and curriculum integration. Data sources included audio-recorded pre-conferences, video-taped classroom observations, audio-recorded post-conferences, and …


Genres Of Dialogic Discussion In High School English: A Cross-Case Study Of Two Courses, Wendy Keyser Aug 2014

Genres Of Dialogic Discussion In High School English: A Cross-Case Study Of Two Courses, Wendy Keyser

Doctoral Dissertations

This cross-case ethnographic study examines genres of discussion in two public high school English courses to explore the interplay between dialogism, structure, and critical and collaborative thinking practices. Bakhtin's concepts of dialogism and speech genres as well as Vygotsky's concepts of thinking and language and the zone of proximal development provide the theoretical premise of this research. Data sources included field notes, audio recordings and transcriptions, artifacts of the teacher's handouts and students' written work, informal conversations, and an interview with the teacher. I used discourse analysis and grounded theory to analyze the data, looking at both lively and problematic …


Improv(Ing) Students: Teaching Improvisation To High School Students To Increase Creative And Critical Thinking, Beth D. Slazak May 2013

Improv(Ing) Students: Teaching Improvisation To High School Students To Increase Creative And Critical Thinking, Beth D. Slazak

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project focuses on teaching High School students improvisational techniques to increase their creative and critical thinking skills. This covers tools of Creative Problem Solving, rules and concepts of improvisational theater, and affective thinking skills. The finished project includes lesson plans, a workbook, and a video that will assist students and educators in teaching these skills.


Students' Conceptions About Climate Change: Using Critical Evaluation To Influence Plausibility Reappraisals And Knowledge Reconstruction, Doug Lombardi May 2012

Students' Conceptions About Climate Change: Using Critical Evaluation To Influence Plausibility Reappraisals And Knowledge Reconstruction, Doug Lombardi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007) reported a greater than 90% chance that human activities are responsible for global temperature increases over the last 50 years, as well as other climatic changes. The scientific report also states that alternative explanations (e.g., increasing energy received from the Sun) are less plausible than human-induced climate change. These climate scientists have made their plausibility judgment--which I define as the relative potential truthfulness of alternative explanations--based on the evaluation and coordination of multiple lines evidence with competing theoretical perspectives.

Climate change is a highly relevant and gravely serious topic; in an educational setting, …