COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AND CRITICAL THINKING

he present research studied the effects of collaborative learning on critical thinking. An experimental and a witness group, each composed of 30 female mathematics students, were administered Critical Thinking Test (OCR, 2000). Next, the experimental group was taught a course using the method of collaborative learning. The witness group was taught the same course using the method of lecturing. The results of MANCOVA showed that the experimental group outperformed the witness group in three subscales of critical thinking namely, critical analysis, credibility of evidence and critical evaluation. The way collaborative learning affects critical thinking skills is discussed.

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