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Module Plan

Critical Thinking and Learning

Course Description:

This course will cover the topic of critical thinking, including how it is an integral part of a broad liberal studies education, as well as why it is an important part of the curriculum in educational settings that should be taught at different grade levels and subject areas. As an online learning course, it will combine synchronous and asynchronous approaches and consist of six two-week learning modules. Each module will include course materials, ongoing readings and interactions, while focusing on six specific areas of inquiry and learning through:

What is critical thinking?

2. How the critical thinking works?

3. Critical thinking and online learning

4. Critical thinking and popular culture

5. Critical thinking and controversial issues

6. Critical thinking and teaching

Course Outcomes:

Distinguish effectively between judging ideas and arguments with critical thinking that has resulted in fair and equitable opinions.

Think critically based on research and analysis of data related to issues from a variety of media.

Obtain and incorporate controversial issues in society and popular culture into the design of the course to guide students to think critically.

Students will be critically guided and encouraged to make connections between course content and real life through online learning.

Be able to introduce and apply different ways to engage critical thinking practices during the process of teaching for multiple courses.

Six Learning Modules:

What is critical thinking?

Use the course materials in this module to learn what critical thinking is and why it is important. Discuss the implications of critical thinking and different perspectives in the synchronous class.

Learning Outcomes:

Define critical thinking and its motivation.

Understand the importance of critical thinking.

Demonstrate the importance of critical thinking in education.

Course Materials:

Videos:

GCFLearnFree. (2019, April 30). “What is Critical Thinking?” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eEBuqwY-nE

Macat. (2016, February 2). “What is Critical Thinking?” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnJ1bqXUnIM

Readings:

The Foundation for Critical Thinking. (n.d.). “Defining Critical Thinking.” The Foundation for Critical Thinking. https://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766

Singh, M. (2022, June 13). “THE IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING IN EDUCATION.”Rahul Education. https://rahuleducation.org/our-scribes/the-importance-of-critical-thinking-in-education/

Jacob, C. (2023, March 25). “Why is Critical Thinking Important?” UpJourney. https://upjourney.com/why-is-critical-thinking-important

Woollett, K. (2023, March 13). “5 reasons why critical thinking is THE most important skill for students.” DIGITAL THEATRE+. https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/blog/5-reasons-why-critical-thinking-is-the-most-important-skill-for-students

How the critical thinking works?

Use the course materials in this module to learn how critical thinking apply. Choose some of the barriers and discuss the skills and the way of critical thinking that can be improve in the synchronous class.

Learning Outcomes:

Demonstrate how critical thinking works.

Define the strengths and weaknesses of critical thinking.

Learn about how to improve critical thinking.

Course Materials:

Videos:

TED-Ed. (2016, March 15). “5 tips to improve your critical thinking - Samantha Agoos.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dItUGF8GdTw

Readings:

Fran. (2021, July 9). “How to think critically – a guide to creative and critical thinking.” Future Learn. https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/how-to-think-critically

Lumen Learning. (n.d.). “Understanding How Critical Thinking Works.”Lumen Learning FASTrack WRIT 102 Writing Guide. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/olemiss-readinganthology/chapter/understanding-how-critical-thinking-works/

Open Learn. (n.d.). “Barriers to critical thinking.” Open Learn | The Open University. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=64740&section=1

SKILLSYOUNEED. (n.d.). “Critical Thinking Skills.” SKILLSYOUNEED. https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-thinking.html

University of Galway. (n.d.). “How to develop your critical thinking skills.” University of Galway. https://www.universityofgalway.ie/academic-skills/criticalthinking/howtodevelopyourcriticalthinkingskills/#

Critical thinking and online learning.

Use the course materials in this module to learn critical thinking and online learning. Discuss its changes and impact on online education in a critical thinking way in the synchronous class.

Learning Outcomes:

Consider the impact of online education on critical thinking.

How critical thinking can be introduced into online course design.

Contrasting online and face-to-face teaching through critical thinking.

Course Materials:

Readings:

McDonald, D. (2020, January 31). “Critical Thinking in the Online Classrooms.” Center for Teaching and Learning | Wiley Education Services. https://ctl.wiley.com/critical-thinking-online-classroom/

Larbi-Apau, A. J. (2021, May 27). “E-learning could develop students’ critical thinking skills.” University World News. https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20210525120017579

Study International Staff. (2020, April 6). “It's true, online learning courses can improve your critical thinking skills.” Study International. https://www.studyinternational.com/news/critical-thinking-online-learning/

Derwin, E. (2009) Critical Thinking in Online Vs. Face-to-Face Higher Education. Media Psychology Review. Vol. 2(1) https://mprcenter.org/review/derwin-criticalthinkingonlineed/

Tathahira, T. (2020, November 7). “Promoting students’ critical thinking through online learning in higher education: Challenges and strategies.” Englisia: Journal of Language, Education, and Humanities. https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/englisia/article/view/6636/4776

Bullen, M. (n.d.). “Participation and Critical Thinking in Online University Distance Education.” VOL. 13, No. 2, 1-32 https://www.ijede.ca/index.php/jde/article/download/140/394?inline=1

Critical thinking and popular culture.

Use the course materials in this module to learn how critical thinking apply. Define popular culture, including but not limited to cultural expressions such as music, film, television and digital media, which can also be linked to literary works in the course. Explore how popular culture products foster critical thinking to understand the world in the synchronous class.

Learning Outcomes:

Define critical thinking and popular culture.

Guides students to think critically about popular culture.

Connection between popular cultural representations and education.

Course Materials:

Videos:

Big Think. (2019, December 9). “How does criticism affect popular culture? | A.O. Scott | Big Think.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2vozzMrTCw

Readings:

Sfeir, G. (2014, January 1). “Critical Pedagogy Through Popular Culture.” ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327653794_Critical_Pedagogy_Through_Popular_Culture

Washington, C. (2022, June 17). Adding Pop Culture to Your Lessons isn’t Hard- Here’s Why. The Educators Room. https://theeducatorsroom.com/adding-pop-culture-to-your-lessons/

Santovec, L. M. (2017, May 1). “Using Pop Culture to Teach Critical Thinking.” WOMEN IN HIGHRT EDUCATION. https://www.wihe.com/article-details/32/using-pop-culture-to-teach-critical-thinking/

TeachThought Staff. (2013, March 10). “8 Tips For Integrating Pop Culture In The Classroom.” TeachThought. https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/8-tips-for-integrating-pop-culture-in-the-classroom/

Aslan, E. U., & Baş, B. (2022). “Popular culture texts in education: The effect of tales transformed into children’s media on critical thinking and media literacy skills.” Thinking Skills and Creativity, 47, 101202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2022.101202

Critical thinking and controversial issues.

Use the course materials in this module to learn the critical thinking and controversial issues in society and education. Play a debate game on the difference between "cultural appropriation" and "cultural appreciation," discussing why this is an important and useful question for developing students' critical thinking in the synchronous class.

Learning Outcomes:

Think critically about socially controversial issues.

Demonstrate why critical thinking for controversial issues important.

Introduce and deal with controversial issues in the teaching process.

Course Materials:

Videos:

TEDx Talks. (2022, June 15). “Controversy and Controversial issues in Education | Sean Lennon | TEDxValdostaState.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Y54wTRtA0

CBC. (2016, October 27). “Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation | CBC Radio | CBC.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfAp_G735r0

Readings:

Johnson, D. W.& Johnson, R. T. (1993, September 1). Creative and Critical Thinking Through Academic Controversy. The American Behavioral Scientist (Beverly Hills), 37(1), 40–53. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764293037001005

ProCon.org. (2022, February 9). “Teaching Controversial Issues and Critical Thinking: Evidence of Importance and Outcomes.” ProCon.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20220409073214/https://www.procon.org/background-resources/teaching-controversial-issues-and-critical-thinking-evidence-of-importance-and-outcomes/

Sudha, M. (2018, August). “Incorporating Controversial Issues in Critical Thinking Lesson: A Case Study of EFL Classroom.” ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326948962_Incorporating_Controversial_Issues_in_Critical_Thinking_Lesson_A_Case_Study_of_EFL_Classroom

Yanklowitz, R. D. S. (2013, October 15). “A Society with Poor Critical Thinking Skills: The Case for “Argument” in Education.” HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-society-with-poor-criti_b_3754401

Critical thinking and teaching.

Use the course materials in this module to learn how to integrate critical thinking into teaching and curriculum design. Explores different teaching way for the critical thinking skills across grades and disciplines ranging from k-12 to adult curriculum in the synchronous class.

Learning Outcomes:

Define why critical thinking in teaching is important.

Understand the breadth of critical thinking across grades and disciplines.

Describe how to incorporate critical thinking into curriculum design.

Course Materials:

Videos:

Etacude English Teachers. (2022, February 8). “How to teach Critical Thinking in the Classroom.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suI67lKRlfo

Readings:

Mississippi College. (2019, October 21). “Importance of Critical Thinking in Curriculum Development.” Mississippi College Online. https://online.mc.edu/degrees/education/eds/leadership-curriculum-instruction/critical-thinking-curriculum-development/

Flicker, J. (2023, February 23). "How to Teach Critical Thinking: 11 Steps." wikiHow. https://www.wikihow.com/Teach-Critical-Thinking

Mangion, R. (2020, October 2). “Fostering Critical Thinking in Adult Learning.” EPALE - European Commission. https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/blog/fostering-critical-thinking-adult-learning

Hamilton, S. (n.d.). "How to Teach Critical Thinking Skills to Adults." Classroom. Synonym. https://classroom.synonym.com/teach-critical-thinking-skills-adults-6636907.html

Joseph, M. (2019, November 19). "Strategies to Increase Critical Thinking Skills in students." Teach Better. https://teachbetter.com/blog/strategies-to-increase-critical-thinking-skills-in-students/

Activities:

Attend online synchronous classes for each module and participate in group activities, try to use variety of different platforms to demonstrate learning and activity outcomes. Each module will have different activities, such as debates on controversial issues, Kahoot games about learning content review, and critical thinking learning outcomes poster presentations.

Completion of a bi-weekly journal based on course material and synchronous online class discussions in 250- 500 words.

Individual Assignment: Critical Thinking and Reflection on Online Learning (no more than 1500 words).

Group Assignment (no more than four people): Critical Thinking Analysis of Controversial Issue in the society.

Office Hour: online learning needs to provide convenience and support for students, which students can book tutoring and extra help when needed (Martin, et al., 2019).

Assessment:

Participation and Attendance 12% (6 x 2%)

Bi-weekly journals 48% (6 x 8%)

Individual Reflection Assignment 15%

Group Analysis Assignment 25%

Synchronous Online Class Participation and Attendance ---- 12% (2% for each)

Complete each module with participation and attendance in online synchronous lessons. Groups of students in breakout room are free to choose from Jamboard, Google doc or Canva posters to present the results of their group discussion activities during the class. The diverse platforms students choose themselves can also demonstrate how students connect theory to practice (Martin, et al., 2019).

Play a game of Kahoot in the synchronous lesson of the final module, reflecting on what has been learned through game interaction. The use of diverse platforms and software in the online learning environment helps to improve students' learning interest and interactivity. For example, Kahoot helps students consolidate and review knowledge points in games (Eckert, 2021).

Weekly online synchronous courses will have different activities based on different modules, such as social and controversial topics will be introduced into debate games. Introducing gamification elements into teaching methods can also help students stimulate and strengthen learning enthusiasm and interactivity while bringing positive results (Sailer & Homner, 2020).

Bi-weekly journal of six modules ---- 48% (8% for each)

Each module has a different area of study on critical thinking, based on each topic can help to guide and follow up students' learning progress step by step and get regular feedback to complete their own learning goals, which also reflect on students' mastery and application of critical thinking from bi-weekly journals for each module.

Individual Reflection Assignment:

Critical Thinking and Reflection on Online Learning ---- 15%

Select the most engaging one of the six modules, based on personal online learning experience and synchronous course group activities, complete reflection with critical thinking and references to course materials. Students can present what they have learned, remaining problems and future study plans to complete a reflection of about 600 words.

Group Analysis Assignment:

Critical Thinking Analysis of Controversial Issue in the society ---- 25%

Introducing controversial issues into the curriculum can help students develop critical thinking, which through exploration and discussion enables students to master how to face different controversial social issues more fairly and equitably.

Each group chooses their own theme related learning modules, combined with the course content of critical thinking and the analysis of recent real social controversy issues, discuss and reflect from multiple dimensions and aspects.

For example:

Government banning social media platform TikTok

Dior accused of 'culturally appropriating' from China

References

Eckert, J. (2021, February 5). 10 Teacher Picks for Best Tech Tools. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/10-teacher-picks-best-tech-tools/

Sailer, M. and Homner, L. (2020) Gamification of Learning: A Meta-analysis, Educational Psychology Review, 32, 77 -112. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-019-09498-w

Martin, F., Ritzhaupt, A., Kumar, S. and Budhrani, K. (2019) Award-winning faculty online teaching practices: Course, design, assessment and evaluation and facilitation. The Internet and higher education, 2019, Vol. 42, p. 34-43 https://ocul-yor.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01OCUL_YOR/j50f41/cdi_gale_infotracacademiconefile_A587139123

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