TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhancing critical thinking skills in first year environmental management students: a tale of curriculum design, application and reflection
AU - Whiley, D.
AU - Witt, Bradd
AU - Colvin, Rebecca
AU - Arrue, Rodolfo Sapiains
AU - Kotir, Julius
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - This paper chronicles the experience of academic staff in developing
a course to enhance the critical thinking skills of environmental
management undergraduates. We outline our considerations
and process for course development, discuss insights from course
evaluations, and reflect on the challenges encountered. We believe
these perspectives will be useful for others who are developing critical
thinking skills curricula, especially first year courses. Aspects of the
course design which were considered particularly effective were the
use of scaffolded assessment, the application of threshold concepts,
and well-structured collaborative learning activities paired with
quality tutors. The key learning for the authors from the evaluation
of the course was that while the tools and strategies developed were
very useful, interweaving these tools into year 2 and 3 courses would
help students see the ongoing value of critical thinking in their work.
AB - This paper chronicles the experience of academic staff in developing
a course to enhance the critical thinking skills of environmental
management undergraduates. We outline our considerations
and process for course development, discuss insights from course
evaluations, and reflect on the challenges encountered. We believe
these perspectives will be useful for others who are developing critical
thinking skills curricula, especially first year courses. Aspects of the
course design which were considered particularly effective were the
use of scaffolded assessment, the application of threshold concepts,
and well-structured collaborative learning activities paired with
quality tutors. The key learning for the authors from the evaluation
of the course was that while the tools and strategies developed were
very useful, interweaving these tools into year 2 and 3 courses would
help students see the ongoing value of critical thinking in their work.
U2 - 10.1080/03098265.2017.1290590
DO - 10.1080/03098265.2017.1290590
M3 - Article
SN - 0309-8265
VL - 41
SP - 166
EP - 181
JO - Journal of Geography in Higher Education
JF - Journal of Geography in Higher Education
IS - 2
ER -