ZU students as critical thinkers

• Preferred learning styles– Surface learning– Structured learning– Rote learning– Memorizing

ZU students as critical thinkers

• Preferred learning styles– Deep learning– Understanding– Mastery– Conclusions using evidence– Supported arguments and explanations

Surface learning

• Learning means making sure you remember things well: 81% very or quite close to my beliefs

• Learning means building up knowledge through facts and information: 96% very or quite close to my beliefs

Deep learning

• Learning means developing as a person: 96% very or quite close to my beliefs

• Learning means understanding new ideas and information for yourself: 100% very or quite close to my beliefs

• Learning means seeing things in a different and more meaningful way: 90% very or quite close to my beliefs

Surface teaching

• I prefer teachers who tell us exactly what to put in our notes (90% like or definitely like)

• I prefer assignments or tests which need only the material provided in our classes (88% like or definitely like)

• I prefer readings which give me definite information and facts which can easily be learned (95% like or definitely like)

Deep teaching

• I prefer teachers who encourage us to think for ourselves and show us how they think: 94% like or definitely like

• I prefer courses which expect us to find new reading and ideas for ourselves: 95% like or definitely like

• I prefer assignments or exams which allow me to show I have thought about the course material myself: 72% like or definitely like.

Teaching for critical thinking

• Teaching challenges

Strategies to teach or encourage critical thinking

Describing for students what critical thinking is

Defining assessment criteria for critical thinking

Grading for critical thinking

• ZULO description• Using surface and deep learning ideas• SOLO taxonomy

– Prestructural level– Unistructural level– Multistructural level– Relational level– Extended abstract level

Students as critical thinkers

• Examples of student work

• Complex tasks requiring the expression of a point of view with reasons/explanation

• Content: about effective parenting or about strategies for control and discipline of children.