ERIC Number: EJ1435134
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2644-2132
Using an Interrupted Case Study to Engage Undergraduates' Critical Thinking Style and Enhance Content Knowledge
Kelsey Hall; Katherine Starzec
Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence, v8 n1 Article 5 p46-62 2024
The interrupted case study is a structured way to engage students in active learning. Interruptions, or pauses for reflection and discussion scheduled within the case-study presentation, provide students with a chance to collaborate and engage in critical thinking. Critical thinking style, which is a measure of how one tends to think critically, provides insight into how one tackles problem solving. This article describes a pilot project that combined critical-thinking style and an interrupted case study, delivered over a two-class-period time frame, to four college courses. The project's goals were to assess students' self-reported knowledge, self-reported ability, changes in thinking, and intentions to use their critical thinking style in the future. The University of Florida Critical Thinking Inventory and an end-of-session evaluation were administered online, and 110 students voluntarily responded. Results indicated that many students enjoyed the discussion-based and problem-solving structure of the interrupted case study. Results also showed increases in students' self-reported knowledge about critical thinking style and content covered in the case study. For teachers looking to pilot an interrupted case study with a critical thinking style component, two class sessions can have a positive effect on student learning and encourage critical thinking.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Critical Thinking, Cognitive Style, Thinking Skills, Active Learning, Reflection, Problem Solving, Cognitive Tests, Discussion, Case Studies, Agricultural Education, State Universities, Marketing, Behavior Change
Utah State University. Merrill-Cazier Library, 3000 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322. Tel: 435-797-1391; e-mail: jete@usu.edu; Web site: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/jete/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Kansas; Utah
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A