New Perspectives in Science Education

Edition 13

Accepted Abstracts

Use of a course blog for critical thinking skills enhancement in chemistry graduate students

Patricia Morales Bueno, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Peru)

Mariela Matos Reyes, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Peru)

Abstract

Critical thinking skills are fundamental components of higher education and particularly of scientific education. It is recognized the close relationship that exists between these skills and various aspects of the practice of science, for example for the verification of hypotheses, decision making, problem solving, argumentation to support the conclusions drawn from the research, among others [1]. Successful experiences have been reported where computer-mediated communication tools are used as pedagogical resources to promote a number of skills as reflection, teamwork, communication and, in particular, for the use of critical thinking skills [2, 3]. This paper reports the use of a blog in the course of Green Chemistry of the Chemistry Master's Program of a Peruvian university. The purpose of this activity was to promote the use and improvement of these skills in graduate students. Some directives were used for the elaboration of the posts, but the work done by the groups of students was a high level of autonomy. The content and characteristics of the posts were assessed as well as the comments and replies that were produced for each of them. The results regarding the development of critical thinking skills with emphasis on the use of argumentation skills were quite satisfactory.

Keywords: Critical thinking, argumentation skills, blogs;

References

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