Infusing Critical Thinking in the Business Curriculum
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Published:
Mar 26, 2019
Keywords:
critical thinking, business curriculum, Bloom’s Taxonomy, thinking skills
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Abstract
Critical thinking has been an important learning outcome of academe since the time of Socrates, yet it remains an elusive objective. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the academic significance of critical thinking and help business faculty appreciate its potential for student learning. The study indicates how teachers are often the major obstacle in a critical thinking initiative and provides a question-based approach using Bloom’s revised taxonomy to help them to be a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem. Recommendations were made for both teachers and the academic administration to help foster a program of continuous improvement in critical thinking for higher education.
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Research Articles
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References
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McEwen, B. (1994). Teaching critical thinking skills in business education. Journal of Education for Business, 70 (2), 99–103. doi: 10.1080/08832323.1994.10117733
Mitchell Kapor Quotes (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.azquotes.com/author/7732-Mitchell_
Kapor Nieto, A., & Saiz, C. (2010). Critical thinking: A question of aptitude and attitude? Inquiry: Critical Thinking across the Disciplines, 25(2), 19–26. Retrieved from https://www.pensamiento-critico.com/archivos/ criticalthinkingattitude.pdf
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Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2006). The miniature guide to critical thinking: Concepts and tools. Foundation for Critical Thinking. Retrieved from https://www.Criticalthinking.org/files/Concepts_Tools.pdf
Paul, R., Elder, L, & Bartell, T. (1997). California teacher preparation for instruction in critical thinking: Research findings and policy recommendations. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED437379.pdf.
Price, B. (2016). Critical thinking: not all that critical. Nonpartisan Education Review/Essays, 12, 2. Retrieved from https://nonpartisaneducation.org/Review/Essays/v12n2.pdf
Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223–231. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2004.tb00809.x
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Team, N. (2017). Why employers value critical thinking? Retrieved from https://nationalskillindiamission.in/ updates/2475/
Van Gelder, T. (2005). Teaching critical thinking: Some lessons from cognitive science. College Teaching, 53(1), 4146. Retrieved from https://info.chesapeake.edu/blogs/fdcblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Teachingcritical-thinking-van-Gelder.pdf
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White, E. (1903). Education, Omaha, NE: Pacific Press Publishing Association.
Whitmire, D. (2017). Why is critical thinking difficult to teach? Credo Education. Retrieved from https://www. credoeducation.com/why-is-critical-thinking-difficult-to-teach/
Wilson, L. (2016). The second principle. Retrieved from https://thesecond principle.com/teaching-essentials/ beyond-bloom-cognitive-taxonomy-revised/
Armstrong, P. (2017). Bloom’s taxonomy. Retrieved from https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/ bloomstaxonomy/
Arum, R., & Roksa, J. (2011). Academically adrift: Limited learning on college campuses. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press [Kindle 5.12.2 version]. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Academically-AdriftLimited-Learning-Campuses/dp/0226028569
Brainy quote (n.d.). A.A. Milne quotes. Retrieved from: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/a_a_milne_408729.
Brotherton, P. (2011). Critical thinking a top skill for future leaders. Retrieved from https://www.td.org/magazines/ td-magazine/critical-thinking-a-top-skill-for-future-leaders
Chartrand, J., Ishikawa, H., & Flander, S. (2013). Critical thinking means business: Learn to apply and develop the new #1 workplace skill. Retrieved from https://thinkwatson.com/downloads/Pearson_TalentLens_ Critical_Thinking_Means_Business.pdf
Chin, C. (2008). Students' questions: A potential resource for teaching and learning science. Studies in Science Education, 44(1), 1-39. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/03057260701828101
Choy, S., & Cheah, P. (2009). Teacher perceptions of critical thinking among students and its influence on higher education. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 20(2), 198–206. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ EJ864337.pdf
De Caprariis, P., Barman, C., & Magee, P. (2001). Monitoring the benefits of active learning exercises in introductory survey courses in science: An attempt to improve the education of prospective public school teachers. The Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 1(2), 1–11. Retrieved from https://josotl. indiana.edu/article/view/1583/1582
Doyle, A. (2018). Critical thinking definition, skills, and examples. Retrieved from https://www.thebalancecareers. com/ critical-thinking-definition-with-examples-2063745
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. Retrieved from https://www.isetl.org/ijtlhe/ pdf/IJTLHE55.pdf
Elder, L., & Paul, R. (2010). Critical thinking: Competency standards essential for the cultivation of intellectual skills, Part 1. Journal of Developmental Education, 34 (2), 38–39. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/ fulltext/EJ986272.pdf
Halpern, D.F. (1998). Teaching critical thinking for transfer across domains. American Psychologist, 53(4), 449-455. Retrieved from https://projects.ict.usc.edu/itw/vtt/HalpernAmPsy98CritThink.pdf
Halpern, D. F. (1999). Teaching for critical thinking: Helping college students develop the skills and dispositions of a critical thinker. New Direction for Teaching and Learning, 80, 69–74. Retrieved from https://precisionmi. com/materials/collegemat/criticalthinking-halpern.pdf
Halpern, D. (2003). Thought & knowledge: An introduction to critical thinking (4th ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, Mahwah, New Jersey.
Halpern, D., & Hakel, M. (2003). Apply the science of learning to the university and beyond. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 35(4), 36–41. Retrieved from https://www.chabotcollege.edu/sloac/more%20reading/ HalpernHake%20science%20of%20learning.pdf
Heick, T. (2017). Why questions are more important than answers. Retrieved from https://www.teachthought. com/critical-thinking/why-questions-are-more-important-than-answers/
Hitchcock, D. (2018). Critical thinking. In Edward N. Zalta (ed.) The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (Fall ed.). Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2018/entries/critical-thinking/
Internet Growth Statistics. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.internetworldstats.com/emarketing.htm.
Islam, S. (2015). What are the importance and benefits of "critical thinking skills"? Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-importance-benefits-critical-thinking-skills-islam/
Jenkins, R. (2017). Why college graduates still can’t think. Retrieved from https://www.jamesgmartin.center/ 2017/03/college-graduates-still-cant- think/#.Wcg1VIZjuo4.email
Jill, C., & Linda, B. (2006). Are they really ready to work? Employers’ perspectives on the basic knowledge and applied skills of new entrants to the 21st century U.S. workforce. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/ ?id=ED519465
John Dewey Quotes. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/833916-if-we-teach-today-sstudents-as-we-taught-yesterday-s-we
Korn, M. (2014, October 21). Bosses seek ‘critical thinking,’ but what is that? The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/bosses-seek-critical-thinking-but-what-is-that-1413923730
Lau, J. (2009). A mini guide to critical thinking. Department of Philosophy the University of Hong Kong. Retrieved from https://www.fkm.utm.my/~kasim/mech/smj3513/criticalthinking1.pdf
Leiner, B., Cerf, V., Clark, D., Kahn, R., Kleinrock, L., Lynch, D., Postel, J., Roberts, L., & Wolff, S. (1997). Brief history of the internet. Retrieved from https://www.internetsocietyorg/internet/history-internet/brief-historyinternet/
Leveling Up: How to win in the skills economy. (2016). PayScale and future workplace release 2016 workforce-skills preparedness report. Retrieved from https://www.payscale.com/about/press-releases/payscale-andfuture-workplace-release-2016-workforce-skills-preparedness-report
Levels of Questions in Bloom’s Taxonomy. (n.d.). TeacherVision. Retrieved from https://www.teachervision. com/teaching-strategies/levels-questions-blooms-taxonomy
Marr, B. (2015). Big data: 20 mind-boggling facts everyone must read. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes. com/sites/bernardmarr/2015/09/30/big-data-20-mind-boggling-facts-everyone-must-read/#44c50a 0817b1
Martinuzzi, B. (2014). How thinking critically can help you make better business decisions. Retrieved from https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/trends-and-insights/articles/improving-thinking-skills/
McEwen, B. (1994). Teaching critical thinking skills in business education. Journal of Education for Business, 70 (2), 99–103. doi: 10.1080/08832323.1994.10117733
Mitchell Kapor Quotes (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.azquotes.com/author/7732-Mitchell_
Kapor Nieto, A., & Saiz, C. (2010). Critical thinking: A question of aptitude and attitude? Inquiry: Critical Thinking across the Disciplines, 25(2), 19–26. Retrieved from https://www.pensamiento-critico.com/archivos/ criticalthinkingattitude.pdf
Paris, B. (2016). Failing to improve critical thinking. Inside Higher ED. Ben Paris. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2016/11/29/roadblocks-better-critical-thinking-skills-areembedded-college-experience-essay
Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2006). The miniature guide to critical thinking: Concepts and tools. Foundation for Critical Thinking. Retrieved from https://www.Criticalthinking.org/files/Concepts_Tools.pdf
Paul, R., Elder, L, & Bartell, T. (1997). California teacher preparation for instruction in critical thinking: Research findings and policy recommendations. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED437379.pdf.
Price, B. (2016). Critical thinking: not all that critical. Nonpartisan Education Review/Essays, 12, 2. Retrieved from https://nonpartisaneducation.org/Review/Essays/v12n2.pdf
Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223–231. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2004.tb00809.x
Reeves, M., & Deimler, M. (2011). Adaptability: The new competitive advantage. Harvard Business Review, JulyAugust. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2011/07/adaptability-the-new-competitive-advantage
Root, G., III (n.d.). What are the benefits of critical thinking in the workplace? Chron.com. Retrieved from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefits-critical-thinking-workplace-11638.html
Sanscartier, M. (2013). Leadership – The importance of critical thinking. MARCHFIFTEEN. Retrieved from https://www.marchfifteen.ca/leadership-the-importance-of-critical-thinking/
Schlueter, J. (2016). Can colleges truly teach critical-thinking skills? Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered. com/views/2016/06/07/can-colleges-truly-teach-critical-thinking-skills-essay
Team, N. (2017). Why employers value critical thinking? Retrieved from https://nationalskillindiamission.in/ updates/2475/
Van Gelder, T. (2005). Teaching critical thinking: Some lessons from cognitive science. College Teaching, 53(1), 4146. Retrieved from https://info.chesapeake.edu/blogs/fdcblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Teachingcritical-thinking-van-Gelder.pdf
What Is Active Learning? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.queensu.ca/teachingandlearning/modules/active/ 04_what_is_active_learning.html
White, E. (1903). Education, Omaha, NE: Pacific Press Publishing Association.
Whitmire, D. (2017). Why is critical thinking difficult to teach? Credo Education. Retrieved from https://www. credoeducation.com/why-is-critical-thinking-difficult-to-teach/
Wilson, L. (2016). The second principle. Retrieved from https://thesecond principle.com/teaching-essentials/ beyond-bloom-cognitive-taxonomy-revised/