Critical Thinking Outcomes of Computer-Assisted Instruction versus Written Nursing Process

Abstract

Abstract Emphasis placed on the development of critical thinking in higher education and nursing education has been accompanied by the challenge to develop effective teaching strategies. While the connection between critical thinking development and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is logical and theoretically plausible, scant empirical support has been published in the nursing literature. • The opportunity to use CAI in the curriculum will grow as additional software programs become available and as their impact is demonstrated through evaluation. If it is demonstrated that CAI programs support critical thinking, which was added to accreditation standards by the National League for Nursing in 1991 (1), additional CAI strategies can be integrated into curricula. Further, there is a need for information on the reliability of the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) as an approach to measuring critical thinking in nursing. The purpose of this study was to increase knowledge about facilitating...