Promoting Critical Thinking through Problem Based Learning in Online Learning Environments

1. Got a problem? Think it out!
Promoting critical thinking in online
courses through problem-based
learning
Dr. Julee S. Poole
Kaplan University
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Academic Chair – Graduate Psychology Department

2. Workshop Abstract
 This workshop will focus on specific teaching strategies to promote critical thinking
through problem-based learning in students taking online courses.
 Critical thinking activities will be discussed for both asynchronous and
synchronous activities in online courses.
 Critical thinking online activities to be discussed will include critical thinking in
reading and writing, online discussions, group activities, online debates, webinars,
virtual field trips, online service learning projects, and connecting the online
learning experience to real world applications.
 Workshop attendees will gain practical skills and participate in critical thinking
problem-based activities that they can incorporate in their online classrooms.

3. Traditional Classroom Learning
Does it Work in Modern Day?

4. The 21st Century Classroom
How has the Learning Process Changes?

5. Critical thinking
is an active learning
process that
requires students to
study, think and
learn through
processes such as…
Reflecting
Challenging
Questioning
Exploring
Alternatives
Reflective
Skepticism
Analyzing

7. (Anderson and Krathwohl,2001)

8. Problem Based Learning
1. What do we know?
 Identify the Problem
 Generate a list of known facts
2. What do we need to know?
 Generate Ideas
 Create Hypothesis
 Decided what information will be
needed to test the hypothesis.

9. Problem Based Learning
3. How do we find out?
 Do the research – gather information/data.
 Analyze Data
 Use new facts to test ideas/hypotheses
 Was the hypothesis supported?
 Do we have a viable solution?
 No? Go back to the top of “How do we
find out?”
 Yes? Move to potential solutions.
4. Potential Solutions
 Present solution using
supportive data
 Debriefing

10. Critical Thinking & Problem Based
Learning in Online Courses
Goal is to develop a class
structure and online
teaching style that
encourages creativity,
reflective thinking, and
self-directed learning.

11. Analyzing Research
 The main purpose of this article is…
 The main arguments that the author is making are…
 The evidence or facts the author uses in this article to support his/her arguments are…
 The main conclusion(s) or inference(s) in this article are…
 The main assumptions underlying the author’s thinking are…
 Discuss the significance of the issue that is the focus of the article. O what do you base your assertions
regarding its significance?
 What potential problems do you see in the author’s reasoning? What potential problems are there with the
author’s use of the information? Does the information used appear relevant, significant, valid, and
sufficient for the conclusions being drawn?
 What other possible conclusions can be drawn from the outcomes of the article?
 How to be a critical thinker when reading!

12. Critical Writing Process
Reflection and
Revision
Structure
Main points
Thesis statement
Outline
Writing
Introduction
Body – State,
Elaborate, give
examples and
illustrations
Weak Points
Identify
Support
Pause and Reflect
Reasoned
Analysis
Using the steps in
analyzing the research.
Completing the
Paper
Write the concluding
section.
(Nosich, 2012)

13. Asynchronous Online Discussion Forums
Discussions allows students to think critically about the
course content and consider their own thoughts and ideas in
relation to the opinions of experts and peers.
Good opportunity to introduce Problem Based Learning.
Promote analysis, reflection via carefully constructed
questions with asynchronous discussion forum assignment
with active instructor moderating.
AAA Model

14. The AAA Model
The AAA model is your “roadside assistance” for helping students to
embrace critical thinking!
The “map” to critical thinking in the asynchronous online discussion
forums is as simple as:
Acknowledge! - Recognition of the student’s efforts
Add! - Adding new information for the student and class to consider
Ask! - Asking a question that will enhance learning and move the
discussion forward.

15. Online Group Activities
 Problem-Based Learning Group Activities
 Service Learning Group Activities
 Team Debates
 Examples:
Group Activity – Problem Solving – Altruism Campaign
Make a Difference Day – National Volunteer Day
Team Debates – Nature vs. Nurture; Freewill vs. Determinism; How do we
learn? --- Classical Conditioning vs. Operant Conditioning vs. Social Learning
Theory.

16. Synchronous Activities
Virtual Seminars
Online Videos –
www.learner.org Discovering Psychology Video Series
Chat Rooms
Virtual Office Hours
Virtual Field Trips
To challenge – Belief Perseverance - Common Sense Test
To consider personality types – The SAPA Project

17. Summary –Critical Thinking & Problem
Solving Learning in the Online Classroom
 Knowledge is constructed, not transmitted.
 Traditional learning no longer is effective.
 Learning must be an active process, not a passive process
 Problem based learning is critical to the learning process.
 Problem based learning promotes critical thinking.
 Students can take full responsibility for their own learning.
 We want motivated students, problem based learning will motivate students.

18.  The quality online course provides “mental “white space” for reflection.
 Learning activities appropriately match various student learning styles.
 Experiential, active learning augments the Website learning environment.
 Solitary and interpersonal learning activities are interspersed.
 Inaccurate prior learning is identified and corrected.
 “Spiral learning” provides for revising and expanding upon prior lessons.
 The master online facilitator/teacher is able to guide the overall learning process.
Summary –Critical Thinking & Problem
Solving Learning in the Online Classroom

19. References
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