Exploring Critical Thinking Dispositions among Fourth Year BSc Nursing Students of Various Colleges of Nursing, Pakistan

Background: Critical Thinking (CT) dispositions in nursing are prominent predictors of competence in delivering high-quality care, and of professionalism, in newly graduated nurses. CT skills, in isolation of CT dispositions, do not guarantee success in the workplace, because Critical Thinking Dispositions (CTD) are important elements of intellectual reasoning that simulate a person towards using the CT skills. Therefore, nursing educational programs should promote lifelong learning rather than focusing on transferring the content of nursing knowledge only. And for this purpose, quality education is the key. Education should focus on teaching from diverse perspectives, incorporating various teaching learning strategies that are congruent with the modern era. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore critical thinking dispositions among final year Baccalaureate Nursing students of various military colleges of nursing, in Pakistan. Methodology: A descriptive qualitative exploratory study design was used to investigate the CTD of BSc final year nursing students. The study population included twelve willing nursing students, from six military colleges across the country. Demographic information and consent was taken from the participants of the study. In-depth interviews, through a semi structured interview guide, and probes were used to obtain data related to personal experiences of CTD amongst the nursing students. Results: Data analysis showed two broad themes: 1) Perceptions of CT, and 2) Experiences of CT dispositions. In theme one, the emerging category was: Clarity of CT;whereas in theme two, the categories that emerged were: a) Truth Seeking, b) Open Mindedness, c) Inquisitiveness, and d) Self Organization. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed positive dispositions towards truth seeking, open mindedness, and self-organization, whereas disposition towards inquisitiveness was weak. Self-confidence and maturity also emerged as positive factors that the students possessed. This study recommends that faculty and learners should extend their concept of CTD, and emphasizes its application in daily routine. Additionally, faculty should modify their instructional strategies and focus on the cultivation of dispositions of inquisitiveness, curiosity, and allow questioning by students in the class.

On the Teaching Design of Graduates’EAP Course:Enhancing Language Proficiency and Critical Thinking Skills

This paper explores the integration of the bridge-in,objectives,pre-assessment,participatory activities,post-assessment and summary(BOPPPS)teaching model within the context of the post-graduates Academic English course.It discusses how this structured approach can effectively enhance students’language proficiency,foster critical thinking skills,and align with the multifaceted objectives of advanced English language education.The study provides a detailed examination of each BOPPPS component as applied to the post-graduates Academic English curriculum,supported by theoretical underpinnings and practical implications.

Nurses'critical thinking disposition and professional commitment:a cross-sectional study

Objective:High-quality and successful nursing care delivery in a variety of situations requires critical thinking training and professional commitment.The present study aimed to investigate critical thinking disposition,professional commitment,and the relationship between these 2 variables among nurses.Methods:As a result of stratified random sampling,201 nurses were enrolled in the present cross-sectional study.Data were gathered using a socio-demographic form,the Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory(CTDI),and the Nurses'Professional Commitment Scale(NPCS).Results:Although the critical thinking disposition scores were at a moderate level(115.70±13.55),the mean score for professional commitment was high(91.37±11.77).A positive correlation was found between critical thinking disposition and professional commitment(r=0.67,P=0.001).Conclusions:Nursing managers are urged to employ strategies to enhance nurses'critical thinking disposition and professional commitment.

Cultivation of Critical Thinking Skills: Exploring the Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence- Enabled Instruction in English Essay Writing

This study explores the impact of generative artificial intelligence(AI)-enabled instruction on critical thinking in English essay writing among 1,050 first-year English majors across four colleges.Pedagogical strategies,including facilitating critical responses and emphasizing real-world application,are identified to enhance generative AI’s impact.Both qualitative and quantitative analyses reveal significant post-intervention improvements in critical thinking skills.This research contributes to understanding how generative AI can effectively foster critical thinking in educational settings.

Research on the Comparison of Critical Thinking and Logical Expression

With the advancement of globalization,university students need not only to master English language skills but also to develop critical thinking and logical expression skills,both of which are crucial for academic and professional success.As an interactive and structured learning activity,English debates provide an effective platform for enhancing these cognitive and linguistic skills.This study investigates the impact of English debates on students’critical thinking and logical expression skills by analyzing pre-and post-debate assessments,survey data,and in-depth interviews with debate participants.The results indicate significant improvements in critical thinking skills,including argumentation logic,rebuttal techniques,and problem awareness.Students also demonstrated notable progress in organizing and expressing complex ideas logically in English.These findings offer valuable insights for English teaching in higher education,suggesting that debates can serve as an effective pedagogical tool for fostering both language and cognitive development in university students.

An Empirical Study of the Effect of Inquiry Teaching on the Development of High School Students'Critical Thinking Under the New Curriculum Standards

The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China has issued three guideline documents to encourage inquiry teaching to help students develop their ability to question,which is a defining feature of critical thinking.Two of the documents have clearly stated that English subject teaching should focus on building students’thinking capacity.Critical thinking is an essential feature of building thinking capacity and a key element of the core competencies the English subject seeks to cultivate.This research measures the performance of students of two high school classes in the exams conducted at the beginning,in the middle,and at the end of the experiment period during which inquiry teaching was applied to enhance students’critical thinking ability.The experiment results show that inquiry teaching can improve students’academic performance in English study and help them better develop their language skills.The implementation of the inquiry design in teaching listening,reading,and writing conforms to the law that governs the development of critical thinking,and the adoption of inquiry teaching can promote the development of critical thinking.

Cultivate Critical Thinking Ability via Students’ Presentations in College English Classes

In the new era when demands for flexible intellectual skills are increasing,strengthening the cultivation of critical thinking ability of students has become one of the key purposes of higher education.This paper intends to discuss how to cultivate students’critical thinking ability through English classroom presentations.It points out that during the whole process,teachers’guidance plays an indispensable role.Only when both teachers and students are aware that classroom presentations are a golden opportunity for the cultivation of students’critical thinking ability and carry this awareness into their English classes,can English presentations be brought into full play.

The Research on Cross-Cultural Critical Thinking in English Teaching: A Pedagogical Paradigm Within the Ideological and Political Course Framework

The conflation of linguistic competencies with ideological and political educational paradigms presents unique opportunities and challenges for English language teaching(ELT)in our increasingly interconnected world.This research seeks to address the role of cross-cultural critical thinking within the landscape of English pedagogy,framed by the imperatives of ideological and political education.Employing a multi-method approach,including thematic content analysis and action research,the study proposes a pedagogical model designed to integrate transcultural discourse and ideologically reflective practices into the conventional ELT curriculum.This paper argues for a reimagined approach to teaching English that encourages students to engage with diverse cultural perspectives and develop a nuanced understanding of global issues.

A Study on Introducing Logical Symbols with Stories to Improve Critical Thinking with a Comparative Experiment

Critical thinking is becoming more and more important in modern society.Logical thinking is one of the core abilities of critical thinking.However,teaching logic to children faces some challenges especially when introducing logical symbols such as the implication symbol.Using stories to introduce logical symbols will address this problem and improve critical thinking.

Correlation between critical thinking and emotional intelligence:a national crosssectional study on operating room nursing students in Iran

Objective:According to the World Federation of Medical Education,critical thinking should be part of the training of medical and paramedical students.Professionals can improve the quality of care of patients after surgery by having or acquiring this skill in health care.Also,Emotional intelligence is introduced as an impor tant and effective factor on the professional performance and mental health of healthcare professionals.Thus,the present study was designed and implemented to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and critical thinking among operating room nursing students of medical sciences universities in Iran.Methods:This cross-sectional study was done on 420 operating room students in 10 top medical sciences universities of Iran in 2022.The sampling method in this research was multistage sampling.The data collection instruments included demographic characteristics,Rickett's critical thinking,and Bradberry-Greaves'emotional intelligence questionnaires.After receiving the ethics code,data collection was done for 2 months.For data analysis,descriptive and inferential analyses including independent t-tests,analysis of variance,and Pearson correlation were used.The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 18(IBM Corporation,Armonk,New York,United States).P-value<0.05 was considered significant.Results:The mean age of the students participating in this study was 23.02±3.70 years,with women constituting 67.4%of them.The results of data analysis indicated that the mean total score of critical thinking and emotional intelligence was 124.10±37.52 and 114.12±43.63,respectively.A direct significant correlation between critical thinking and emotional intelligence(r=0.459,P-value<0.001)and a significant relationship between gender and emotional intelligence(P-value=0.028)were found.Conclusions:Based on the present study results,educational managers in the Ministry of Health are suggested to consider suitable educational programs for improving critical thinking and emotional intelligence to enhance the quality of care provided by students in operating rooms.

Reflections on Cultivating Critical Thinking in Foreign Language Courses in the Context of Integrating Ideological and Political Theories in All Courses

The education reform of integrating ideological and political theories in all courses is crucial in fostering virtue through education.In the new era,foreign language courses are increasingly prominent in moral education.Learning a language is not just about mastering its language form but also about critically examining the cultural connotations and thinking patterns embedded within it.Therefore,cultivating students’critical thinking skills should be a key focus in foreign language education.First,this paper examines the importance of fostering students’critical thinking in foreign language courses.Second,considering the characteristics of Chinese college foreign language courses,we propose that if we want to cultivate critical thinking among students through foreign language courses,we need to effect pattern transformations across four aspects:teaching philosophy,teaching content,teaching methodology,and teaching evaluation.These transformations also present requirements for foreign language teachers.They should focus on enhancing their comprehensive literacy,including ideological and political literacy,teaching design skills,and the ability to integrate teaching materials with logical thinking.And China’s Standards of English Language Ability(the CSE)serves as an important reference indicator for implementing these transformations.

The Role of Integrated English Language Skills and Critical Thinking in the Development of Global Awareness

The ability to communicate effectively in English is increasingly being viewed as an expectation of individuals who wish to engage with the global community. Mindful of these needs, the goals of the Global Citizenship Program （GCP） at Soka University, Tokyo, Japan, focus not only on increasing English proficiency, but also on developing independent study skills, raising awareness of global issues, and enhancing the abilities of students to integrate information from multiple sources in meaningful ways. In the GCP, students enroll in English for Academic Purposes （EAP） courses which focus on developing critical thinking and research skills as well as English fluency. Through activities that require students to critically evaluate and synthesize information, opportunities are provided to engage in independent research focusing on the development process and global initiatives. This paper describes how the GCP curriculum develops academic skills and English proficiency, incorporates critical thinking activities, emphasizes global awareness, and integrates content-knowledge in order to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to interact successfully in the global community.

A comparative study of how Chinese ESL students and American students work on the same writing assignment that involves critical thinking

The paper compares and contrasts how Chinese ESL students and American students work on a same descriptive English writing assignment that requires critical thinking. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the similarity and difference between English composition teaching in China and English composition teaching in America in regarding to incorporating critical thinking, as reflected in the use of this assignment. The study uses descriptive analysis of student writings as well as quantitative analysis of questionnaires, student grades given both from the author and several other researchers who are invited to participate in the study. The cognitive abilities in critical thinking basically consist of logical thinking, dialectical thinking, and creative thinking abilities. The study reveals that Chinese students＇ works generally flow well and they use a language that is coherent and clear. However, the study also reveals that Chinese students have difficulties in implementing critical thinking at English composition learning, and the difficulties lie in creative and dialectical thinking. To cultivate critical thinking, we need to employ affective strategies, meta-cognitive strategies-macro-abilities, and cognitive strategies-micro-abilities. The paper concludes by giving concrete examples in the area of cognitive strategies-micro-abilities in order to cultivate critical thinking.

Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice and Critical Thinking Skills of Nursing Students: Lessons from the Review of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Curriculum of the University of Zambia

Background: Making changes in the existing curriculum aims, objectives, course contents learning outcomes and assessment strategies have become a fact of life for nurse educators. Purpose: To enhance the existing Bachelor of Science (BSc) in nursing curriculum through integration of evidence-based practice (EBP) and teaching of critical thinking skills. Materials and Methods: A needs analysis was conducted using a five-phased approach to review the BSc in nursing Curriculum. Kern’s six-step model was adapted and introduced through a series of workshop exercises that highlighted the application of each step: 1) Desk review of the BSc curriculum offered globally;2) Administration of the needs assessment questionnaire to key informants;3) Strengths, weakness, opportunities and threat analysis;4) Consultative meeting with major stakeholders;5) Curriculum review. Results: The five-phased approach established some gaps in existing curricula, and identified critical core competences and best practices in integrating EPB and critical thinking in the BSc undergraduate curriculum and some “A” level content that was not in tandem with the practice of nurses. New courses were developed to support students in academic writing and enhance professionalism and duration of training was reduced from 5 to 4 years. Conclusion: The process demonstrated that BSc curriculum review, in fact, should be thoroughly scrutinized to encourage positive changes to the curriculum, provide opportunities for team building and the development of leadership skills and a whole-of course perspective on the curriculum.

On Critical Thinking Skill Cultivation in EFL Teaching

Critical thinking has been recognized internationally as an essential skill for high-quality talents.This article analyzes what the experimental researches on cultivating critical thinking skills in EFL teaching have achieved and identifies the three weaknesses to be addressed in the future.Firstly,there are divergences among scholars on the concept and subskills of critical thinking.Secondly,the teaching modes and methods explored by the experimental researches are more personalized than systematic,which reduces their application and guidance value.Thirdly,the reliability and validity of the experiments need to be improved,and the cultivation practices tend to improve the critical thinking skills of some students,without considering the differences among students,especially the students with relatively poor language proficiency.

Fostering Critical Thinking Skills in the EFL College-Level Classroom Through Online Collaborative Document Tools

This paper explores the potential of applying online collaborative documents to foster critical thinking skills in EFL college-level classrooms.Considering the limitations of traditional teacher-centered approaches and the need for innovative methods,the study examines the integration of online collaborative tools,using Tencent Docs as an example.The discussion highlights the importance of critical thinking in the academic and professional spheres and introduces the concept of online collaborative documents for enhancing this cognitive skill.Through a detailed exploration,the paper presents a model of employing collaborative documents within a college English class,demonstrating how students collaboratively learning an article.Then,the paper discusses the pros and cons of employing this technology in classroom.The conclusion emphasizes the transformative potential of integrating technology into pedagogy and its role in creating a dynamic learning environment.The paper underscores the importance of striking a balance between technology and traditional methods,foreseeing avenues for further research and development.

From Critical Thinking to Artful Communication： Inspirations from Dewey＇s Theory of Communication

The idea of Philosophy for Children （P4C） initiated by Matthew Lipman aims to foster critical and creative thinking in children through the pedagogy of a community of inquiry. In his formulation of P4C, Lipman emphasizes the role of logical reasoning in thinking and assumes a mutually reinforcing relationship between critical and creative thinking. In this paper, I present an example of a real classroom dialogue which illustrates the inherent tension between logical and creative thinking, as well as the need to go beyond critical thinking. I then proceed to argue for the importance of communication in creating and sustaining a genuine community of inquiry. In conclusion, I suggest that John Dewey＇s view of communication as essentially transformative, aesthetic, educative, and moral can be made the basis for envisioning an alternative focus of P4C--namely, the ideal of artful communication, which has far-reaching implications for realizing the democratic idea of ＂community＂ in a community of inquiry.

Innovating Pedagogical Practices through Professional Development in Computer Science Education

Recent advancements in technology have opened up new avenues for educators to facilitate teaching and leverage more learning access in the digital age.As the demand for computational skills continues to grow in preparation for future careers,both teachers and students face the challenge of developing problem-solving,critical thinking,communication,and collaboration skills within an emerging digital landscape.Technology adoption,big data,cloud computing and artificial intelligence pose ongoing challenges for both teachers and students in adapting to the changing workforce development landscape.To tackle these challenges,the paper highlights the importance of exploring the implications of learning sciences in classroom teaching,developing a holistic vision for professional development in education,and understanding the complexities of teacher change.To effectively implement these components,it is crucial to adopt design approaches that prioritize student ownership in education and embrace the principles of inclusive education to reconceptualize the teaching practices in education and technology.

Skills of Cultivating Critical Thinking in English Speech

English speech is an important way for international cultural exchange in the context of globalization.Meanwhile,the cultivation of critical thinking has been universally recognized as one of the goals of higher education.However,critical thinking,as a top-level cognitive ability,is extremely abstract and complex,so how to put it into English speech is a challenge.Therefore,in order to simplify the issue,inspired by the interdependent relatiomhip between critical thinking and creativity,this article helps to explore some skills of cultivation.

Effects of Problem-based English Writing Instruction on Thai Upper Secondary School Students' Critical Thinking Abilities and Argumentative Writing Skills

The objective of the study is to examine the effects of Problem based English writing instruction on Thai Upper secondary school students' critical thinking abilities and argumentative writing skill.In this study,the researcher constructed 18weeks' training in a prestigious secondary school M6 level.The instruments used in this research include lesson plans,writing assignments,instructional material and topics.Critical thinking pre- test and post test were used to measure students' critical thinking development.Scoring rubric was designed to measure students' argumentative writing development.The data were analyzed using mean,t-test,correlation through SPSS system.The results of the analyses reveal that 1) students who learn through Problem based English Writing Instruction gained significantly higher average scores on the critical thinking post test than the critical thinking pre-test at the significance level of 0.05 and the mean difference is 0.5 which is referred to large effect;2) students who learn through Problem based English Writing Instruction gained significantly higher average score on their fifth argumentative writing assignment than the average score of their first argumentative writing assignment at the significance level of 0.05,with the mean of the effect size at 0.84 which referred to large effect.Problem-based English writing instruction was proved to be an effective way in improving students' Critical thinking and argumentative writing.