The Task-Based Approach to Teaching Critical Thinking for Computer Science Students

Abstract

Critical thinking (CT) is one of the most important 21st-century skills that employers believe will grow in prominence. However, many higher education (HE) graduates often lack it. This is also true for graduates in computer science (CS) and related disciplines, who need CT to drive social and organizational digitalization. There are a number of strategies for teaching CT. However, there is no evidence regarding how to effectively teach CT in CS. To address this gap, this study proposes an educational approach that aims to promote CT to the students of CS and related disciplines. An educational experiment using this approach was conducted in two modules with similar content. The written reflections of 11 students on their development in CT and the quantitative data of students’ self-assessments of their CT skills and dispositions before (N = 20) and after (N = 11) the experiment were analyzed. Priority was given to the qualitative data. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the proposed approach has a positive impact on the development of students’ perceived CT skills. They also show that this approach stimulates and promotes students’ ability to transfer CT to other tasks and domains and to other contexts and situations. However, the positive development of students’ CT dispositions could not be demonstrated in this study, which can be explained by the short duration of this intervention.

A Task-based learning application in Higher Education, for future teachers of primary and preschool education

“…All this is consistent with the previous studies conducted in languages learning and other subjects. (Zhou, et al, 2013) (Ikhsan, 2020 (Mäkiö & Mäkiö, 2023) (Costa, 2016) All these findings support the formative nature of TBL in all subjects, provided by a carefully selected tasks that orientate students to the main goals of the subjects and incorporate the little details needed to carry out the assignments. Working in groups is beneficial for discussing the various approaches that can be taken into conducting the tasks and provides a well distributed task vs. material and time management ratio.…”

“…As other studies on TBL had shown (Mäkiö & Mäkiö, 2023) (Al Kandari & Al Qattan, 2020, by conducting tasks students learning easier and process the materials taught in a useful manner, applying their knowledge in various context. This helps shape students' perception by the subject and provides practical applications, boosting critical thinking as well.…”

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“…To address this challenge, educators increasingly turn to innovative instructional approaches such as taskbased learning, prioritizing active participation, problem-solving, and practical application in the learning process. Task-based learning, on the other hand, capitalizes on active engagement, promoting critical thinking and linking theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios (Khoshsima & Shokri, 2016;Mäkiö & Mäkiö, 2023;Marashi & Mirghafari, 2019;Rodríguez et al, 2014). Students may better grasp Mendelian genetics patterns by incorporating innovative teaching approaches that simulate genetic crosses, phenotypic outcomes, and inheritance probabilities.…”

Ecological Culture and Critical Thinking: Building of a Sustainable Future

“…Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information objectively and independently [59][60][61]. Thus, critical thinking is a fundamental skill for navigating the complexities of environmental challenges.…”