IMPLEMENTING TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT OF CRITICAL THINKING GENERIC SKILL WITHIN STATISTICS SUBJECTS IN ENGINEERING DEGREES

Introduction:
In this study, we shall describe a teaching experience carried out by a group of lecturers in the Statistics Department. These lecturers are involved in the training and assessment of “critical thinking” skills as part of the institutional project centred on generic skills at the Universitat Politècnica de València. This generic skill is an integrated part of the subjects of Statistics in engineering degrees.

Methodology:
The lecturers have designed different activities that the students have carried out over the academic year. Those activities are linked to the abilities involved in critical thinking. The activities require ongoing assessment from the formative point of view. Thus, the students are aware of their improvement in this generic skill. Additionally, students are evaluated in the exams with questions in different formats related with the proposed activities (PoliformaT exams, tests and peer review).

Results:
Suitable materials and activities for training and assessment of critical thinking have been developed. On the other hand, a rubrics-based evaluation system has been proposed. Following this, the outcomes perceived in relation to the students’ critical thinking skills have been analysed. Finally, the teaching staff and the students’ opinions have been collected through surveys.

Conclusions:
The group has implemented this new methodology in the regular lessons of the Statistics subjects. After this first phase, the weaknesses and strengths of the methodology have been identified. All in all, the results of surveys show that the methodology has given good results and it has been well appreciated by students and lecturers.