Student reflections on the curriculum and citizenship education using card sorting in group settings

Abstract

This reflective paper aims to illustrate how card sorting activities can be used as an educational tool to capture group perspectives, prompt reflection and endorse citizenship skills such as discussion, critical thinking, group collaboration and decision-making. For this illustration, the paper presents the results of a pilot study in which students in a higher education context conducted two different card sorting activities. In addition, the reflections and lessons learned from the case study together with literature about Diamond Ranking and Q methodology's sorting technique, are presented to highlight the potential of card sorting as a multipurpose educational tool in higher education settings. In the final section, the author reflexively contemplates future research opportunities to enhance the body of literature on card sorting activities, based on the Q methodology's sorting technique, as an educational tool.