Definitions of Critical Thinking and Civic Thinking
- Critical thinking - considering the evidence, making logical connections between pieces of information, separating fact from fiction where possible, to achieve as clearly as possible a true understanding of the situation.
- Civic thinking involves the analysis, planning, and/or evaluation of actions that may impact society, a term that can refer to a small community or be expanded to include larger communities and ultimately the global society.
- We use the acronym (CT)2 to link these two concepts: critical thinking for civic thinking.
Defining (CT)2 in the Context of Participating Institutions
- Most colleges and universities include critical thinking and responsible citizenry through civic engagement and/or community service as student learning goals.
- We are four metropolitan higher education institutions (Central Connecticut State University, Portland State University, University of Akron, and Wagner College) that have similar proportions of women (53-60%) and minority students (14-20%) in their undergraduate populations.
- We formed a Carnegie campus cluster for cross-institutional comparison of (CT)2 in introductory courses.
- We investigate the relationship between critical thinking and civic thinking, how to improve (CT)2 skills in students using already existing courses, how to assess directly any improvement in (CT)2 skills.
Developing the Project
- We sought to create and embed (CT)2 exercises in existing introductory courses as learning exercises. Such exercises are open-ended, purposely ambiguous scenarios that challenge students to weigh evidence, formulate hypotheses and evaluate the validity of conclusions within a social and political context that also requires a civic action plan. An initial proposal to NSF went unfunded but did receive several positive reviews.
- We continued our discussions at various meetings, and held a Summer Institute at Wagner College in New York in 2005 where we finalized our plans for a pilot study for the 2005-2006 academic year, funded in part through an AAHE Campus Program Cluster Leadership grant.
Pilot Study Protocol
- (CT)2 exercises with similar formats were embedded in introductory science courses.
- The pilot study involved eight instructors teaching introductory science courses at four institutions. Each participating professor was given freedom to teach (CT)2 concepts however s/he wished.
- We used a consistent (CT)2 exercise for measuring pre/post changes in critical thinking and civic thinking.
- Data analysis: Student responses were coded and randomized and a subset of responses was reviewed by two evaluators at Wagner College and University of Akron.
Revisions to original protocol for NSF funded project
- The current NSF research project includes a new student survey instrument for demographic data. In addition, faculty teaching strategies have been standardized within a 4-stage range.
