Implementation of Critical Reflection Analysis in Teaching and Learning Focused on Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Abstract

Traditional approaches in teaching and learning do not seem to be satisfactory for students at higher education institution. They do not fully focus on students’ improvement in the process of reality understanding, evaluating the huge amount of data, making the decisions and taking the responsibility for their behaviour. In order to foster those learning processes in formal education, the development of the critical thinking skills became the biggest challenge for higher education institutions (HEI). Critical thinking (CT) is one of the key competences of a university-educated person. This cannot be achieved without changing the perspective of what is the role of the teacher together with the implementation of the teaching techniques which are fostering the critical thinking. Creation of the new types of relationship between teacher and students has significant impact on critical thinking. In this paper, preliminary results of the ongoing national research project conducted at the Matej Bel University in Slovakia are presented. The current level of the critical thinking skills among the students of various study programs were tested. The main aim of this paper is to identify the processes of teaching and learning with the elements of the critical thinking. The project research strategy and methodology has been developed upon the implementation of the Critical Reflection Analyses which assess and evaluates the observed processes as well as provides a room for improvement. The new approach for teaching and learning in higher education which enhance critical thinking skills of students is considered as the key project outcome.