1. Developing Critical Thinking under Test Conditions: an explorative endeavou r Sandra Leigh University of Nottingham

2. Freire’s Concept of Education Banking versus liberating education

3. Outline Introduction Challenges Validity & Strengths Limitations and future developments/directions Questions

4. Introduction Foundation Programme and CT module CT learning outcomes: – understanding argumentation and reasoning – analytical and critical thinking, – developing confidence

5. Test Purpose how students position themselves in a controversy how they present valid arguments their abilities to note fallacious reasoning and to understand abstract concepts, bias, statistics

6. Challenges (Abstract and diverging) process versus (tangible & convergent)product Content versus thinking skills Selecting the right topics Students’ different abilities

7. The Test 1 st section: 10 questions 2 nd section: 15 questions; multiple tasks 3 rd section: 1 question from 3 choices

8. Validity Criteria for CT assignments: http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/critical- thinking-testing-and-assessment/594 http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/critical- thinking-testing-and-assessment/594 Learning Outcomes of FP

9. Four Criteria for CT assignments Address fundamental & powerful concepts Appropriate (range) of cognitive skills Reasoned questions/judgements within conflicting or complex issues Intellectual standards: FP learner outcomes

10. Learner Outcomes knowledge and understanding intellectual skills transferable skills

11. Strengths Variety of cognitive skills + Engaging and continuous process = Learning under assessment conditions

12. Limitations Time and Topics Materials, cultural bias & language advantage Subjective marking: sections 2 and 3

13. Future Developments Assessment: exam and coursework; SEM 1 and 2 Include more global perspectives Provide more clarifications

14. Questions ?

15. References Freire, P. (2004). Pedagogy of Hope. London: Continuum. Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2007) Consequential Validity: using assessment to drive instruction. Available at http://www.criticalthinking.org/files/White%20Pap erAssessmentSept2007.pdf http://www.criticalthinking.org/files/White%20Pap erAssessmentSept2007.pdf Wolfe, C. (nd) Criteria for Critical Thinking Assignments. Available at http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/critical- thinking-testing-and-assessment/594 http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/critical- thinking-testing-and-assessment/594