Developing Co-curricular courses that lead to critical thinking in on-line and hybrid coursework

Abstract

Hybrid and on-line coursework is an indispensible tool for the delivery of instruction at all colleges and universities. But technology is not pedagogy. Research findings by the US Department of Education (2010) indicate that online and hybrid instruction models can be successful in teaching critical thinking and higher level thinking but only if courses using these technologies are re-designed and restructured. For this interdisciplinary project, professors in Educational Administration, Nursing and Teacher Education will investigate, design and implement curriculum for asynchronous courses that combine rigorous assignments and assessments that lead to critical thinking and are aligned with the K-12 Common Core Learning Standards. The work will be assessed using a combination of student surveys, focus groups and class evaluations and the final products will presented at the statewide CIT conference in the Spring of 2014 and course designs made available through the SUNY Learning Commons.