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Critical Thinking Theory to Practice: Using the Expert's Thought Process as Guide for Learning and Assessment
Author(s) -
Marshall Teresa A.,
Marchini Leonardo,
Cowen Howard,
Hartshorn Jennifer E.,
Holloway Julie A.,
Straub-Morarend Cheryl L.,
Gratton David,
Solow Catherine M.,
Colangelo Nicholas,
Johnsen David C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.21815/jde.017.045
Subject(s) - critical thinking , process (computing) , psychology , component (thermodynamics) , medical education , outcome (game theory) , systematic process , thinking processes , medicine , mathematics education , computer science , work in process , engineering , operations management , physics , mathematics , mathematical economics , thermodynamics , statistical thinking , operating system
Critical thinking skills are essential for the successful dentist, yet few explicit skillsets in critical thinking have been developed and published in peer‐reviewed literature. The aims of this article are to 1) offer an assessable critical thinking teaching model with the expert's thought process as the outcome, learning guide, and assessment instrument and 2) offer three critical thinking skillsets following this model: for geriatric risk assessment, technology decision making, and situation analysis/reflections. For the objective component, the student demonstrates delivery of each step in the thought process. For the subjective component, the student is judged to have grasped the principles as applied to the patient or case. This article describes the framework and the results of pilot tests in which students in one year at this school used the model in the three areas, earning scores of 90% or above on the assessments. The model was thus judged to be successful for students to demonstrate critical thinking skillsets in the course settings. Students consistently delivered each step of the thought process and were nearly as consistent in grasping the principles behind each step. As more critical thinking skillsets are implemented, a reinforcing network develops.