Critical thinking perspectives of undergraduate students: How they think about climate change impacts on global food security and hunger
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v1i1.29Keywords:
critical thinking, higher education, scenarios, faculty development, undergraduate educationAbstract
Today’s learners need support in not only developing capacity for a global mindset, but also for thinking critically about the world. Employers are seeking graduates who can enter the workforce prepared to work within agriculture with the ability to understand its complexities. Higher education institutions have been called upon to provide this to students and faculty are often charged with this responsibility. However, faculty are often unprepared to provide this level of instruction and need support in order to foster this in the classroom. Student participants in this study were exposed to scenarios, which are a tool used to provide multiple perspectives and outcomes to real-life scenarios. Faculty used the scenarios to complement course instruction with respect to the impacts of climate change on food security and hunger. Using Facione’s (1990) framework for critical thinking skill, statements submitted by students both prior to the scenario and post were analyzed. It was found that while students demonstrated critical thinking in both the pre and post, the post statements were much richer, in-depth, and thoughtful in how critical thinking was demonstrated. This showed that faculty support, combined with innovative teaching methods, like scenarios, will encourage students’ building of capacity for critical thinking.
Downloads
References
Abrami, P. C., Bernard, R. M., Borokhovski, E., Michael, A. W., Surkes, M. A., Tamim, R., & Zhang, D. (2008). Instructional interventions affecting critical thinking skills and dispositions: A stage 1 meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research, 78, 1102–1134. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654308326084
Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Our students’ best work: A framework for accountability worthy of our mission. AAC&U.
Bascuas, K. (2013). Most employees are only average at critical thinking. http://associationsnow.com/2013/02/study-most-employees-are-only-average-at-critical-thinking/
Duron, R., Limbach, B., & Waugh, W. (2006). Critical thinking framework for any discipline. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 17(2), 160-166.
Facione, P. (1990). Critical thinking: A statement of expert consensus for purposes of educational assessment and instruction. The California Academic Press.
Flores, K. L., Matkin, G. S., Burbach, M. E., Quinn, C. E., & Harding, H. (2012). Deficient critical thinking skills among college graduates: Implications for leadership. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 44(2), 212-230. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-5812.2010.00672.x
Hernstein, R. J., Nickerson, R. S., de Sánchez, M., & Swets, J. A. (1986). Teaching thinking skills. American Psychologist, 41(11), 1279-1289. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.41.11.1279
NALSUGC. (2004). A call to leadership: The presidential role in internationalizing the university. Report of the NASULCG Task Force on International Education, October 2004.
Ricketts, K. G., & Morgan, C. (2009). Internationalizing leadership development: Important components within educational international leadership experiences. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 16(2), 21-34. https://doi.org/10.5191/jiaee.2009.16202
Stedman, N. & Adams, B. (2012). Identifying faculty’s knowledge of critical thinking concepts and perceptions of critical thinking instruction in higher education. NACTA Journal, 56(2), 9-14.
Terenzini, P. T., Springer, L., Pascarella, E.T., & Nora, A. (1995). Influences affecting the development of students’ critical thinking skills. Research in Higher Education, 36(1), 23-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02207765
The National Research Council. (2009). Transforming agricultural education for a changing world. The National Academic Press.
Wilson, I., & Ralston, W. (2006). Scenario planning handbook: Developing strategies in uncertain times. South-Western Educational.
Zohar, A., Weinberger, Y., & Tamir, P. (1994). The effect of the biology critical thinking project on the development of critical thinking. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 31(2), 183-196. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.3660310208