Relation Between Type of Academic Institution of Origin and Development of Critical Thinking Abilities in College Students

• 作者: Angel Roco Videla Nicole Hansen Salas
• 来源期刊: 美中教育评论：B
• 学科: 教育
• 关键词: critical thinking debate curriculum SKILLS
• 年，卷（期）: mzjypl-b_2014,（11）
• 页码范围: 834-838
• 页数: 5页
• 分类号: G4

摘要

Critical thinking abilities are not sufficiently developed across the curriculum of academic programs in Chile, neither in schools nor in universities. Considering these skills are so essential for every human being in all aspects of their life, it is a necessity for new programs to be created and taught from school through university. The purpose of this study was to analyze the development of critical thinking abilities in 109 first-year college students at AndrOs Bello University, and to evaluate if their institution of origin （private, public, and subsidy schools） was a significant factor in their skill development. To do so, the test for critical thinking was applied, measuring the level of agreement the students showed when asked if they apply these abilities in everyday situations. This test included the exploration of speaking, reading, and writting abilities, which were divided in two dimensions, substantive and dialogical. The results showed that there is no dependence between the type of school and development of critical thinking skills, although there was a small tendency that private schools show better results, which is coherent with the fact that these schools concentrate the majority of debate and critical thinking programs in the country. However, these programs are still insufficient, which is proved by the fact that, according to our results, the vast majority of students do not reach a desirable level of development in their critical thinking skills. This research was the start point for two very innovative and important academic programs in Chile： the Center for Critical Thinking and Debate Development through general education at Andres Bello University （mandatory for all students）, and the Debate and Critical Thinking Program across the curriculum program at Lincoln International Academy （inserted in the curriculum for scholars from 5th to 1 lth grade）.