A study of critical thinking skills and online forums in engineering mathematics

The study looked into the development of critical thinking skills during the teaching and learning of engineering mathematics. Forty three students of an engineering mathematics unit participated in two ill structured problem solving sessions over the Blackboard discussion forums. Critical thinking was measured from the online postings using the CAIS model and the progress in the level of critical thinking is checked from first forum to the second. The general critical thinking skills prior to and after the forum sessions were measured through the CCTST (California Critical Thinking Skills Test) test. Results from the CAIS model scores indicated that critical thinking skills as seen in mathematics problem solving, progressed from first forum to the second, and results from the CCTST scores also confirm that general critical thinking skills have improved after participation in the online forums