The lack of a precise definition for critical thinking makes it difficult for educators to agree on specifically how critical thinking should be assessed. This study assesses the efficacy of an innovative university initiative designed to promote critical thinking through project-based learning (PBL). Over 400 students participated in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment including critical thinking items from both a widely used inventory as well as a new assessment designed to assess critical thinking in a more practical fashion. The authors’ novel critical thinking assessment breaks down critical thinking into construction and critique components, with results indicating that critique is more challenging for students, regardless of experimental condition. However, students specifically prompted for critique demonstrated more attempts at critique than their counterparts who did not receive a critique prompt. The results indicate a paucity of critical thought in general, suggesting multiple challenges for both the teaching and assessment of critical thinking skills.
Ukosefu wa ufafanuzi sahihi wa kufikiri kwa ukali hufanya iwe vigumu kwa walimu kukubaliana hasa jinsi kufikiri kwa ukali inapaswa kutathminiwa. Utafiti huu unathamini ufanisi wa mpango wa chuo kikuu wa ubunifu ulioundwa kukuza kufikiri kwa ukali kupitia kujifunza kwa msingi wa mradi (PBL). Zaidi ya wanafunzi 400 walishiriki katika majaribio ya 2 × 2 ya sababu, ikiwa ni pamoja na vitu vya kufikiri muhimu kutoka kwa orodha ya kawaida na pia tathmini mpya iliyoundwa kutathmini kufikiri muhimu kwa njia ya vitendo zaidi. Tathmini ya mwandishi wa riwaya ya kufikiri kwa ukosoaji huvunja kufikiri kwa ukosoaji katika vipengele vya ujenzi na ukosoaji, na matokeo yanaonyesha kwamba ukosoaji ni changamoto zaidi kwa wanafunzi, bila kujali hali ya majaribio. Hata hivyo, wanafunzi waliohimizwa kwa utambuzi walionyesha majaribio zaidi ya ukosoaji kuliko wenzao ambao hawakupokea mwito wa ukosoaji. Matokeo yanaonyesha upungufu wa kufikiri muhimu kwa ujumla, na kupendekeza changamoto nyingi kwa wote kufundisha na tathmini ya ujuzi wa kufikiri muhimu.