2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Teaching and Assessing Critical Thinking in English-Medium Instruction Courses: Perspectives from Japan
| Project/Area Number |
20K00753
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| Research Institution | Sophia University |
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Principal Investigator |
KOYAMA DENNIS 上智大学, 国際教養学部, 准教授 (60817980)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | Critical Thinking / Collaborative Learning / Project-based Learning / Environmental Literacy |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
As the lead author, I co-authored a peer-reviewed article which has been accepted for publication in 2023 in the journal "Teaching in Higher Education." The article uses classroom experiences of how students engage their thinking processes about the environmental crisis. to show a disposition view of environmental literacy as an alternative to seeing it as merely a set of knowledge. I presented at 2 international, peer-reviewed conferences held in Taiwan and Singapore, and I was invited to give a lecture titled “Cooperative Learning: Critical Thinking and Learning Transfer” given at Michigan State University and the Japan Center for Michigan Universities. For data collection, I conducted 15 additional interviews, which are being prepared for analysis.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
This year I was able to use the insights gathered from prior data collections and an extensive literature review I conducted to developed a structured interview that explores interviewees' perspectives about critical thinking in their contexts . The guiding research questions for the interview are: 1) How do teachers define and teach critical thinking; 2) How is critical thinking assessed; and, 3) How does critical thinking take place in specific teaching contexts?
I have recorded 15 interviews and have collected pre-interview surveys from all the participants. I have begun transcribing the recordings and organizing the pre-interview survey data for analysis. The results will be written up and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
With universities in Japan resuming face-to-face classes and travel restrictions lifted, I intend to collect more data and to present the preliminary findings at domestic venues. Some of the current preliminary findings highlight both systematic barriers (e.g., class size, prescriptive curricula) and other perceived hinderances (e.g., critical thinking is not defined for programs). I plan to conduct a micro analysis of the additional data collected this year to enhance the information I present at academic conferences and to use for publication in relevant academic journals.
I plan to use my remaining funds to purchase equipment, which I have not been able to purchase due to COVID-19 delays in the world's supply chain, and to local travel and attendance fees for domestic conferences.
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| Causes of Carryover |
I plan to use my remaining funds to purchase equipment (e.g.., computer), which I have not been able to purchase due to COVID-19 delays in the world's supply chain,. I also plan to attend and present at local conferences, so I will use the money for travel and attendance fees for domestic (and possibly international) conferences. I also need to hire research assistance to help with the transcription of the the collected interview data.
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Research Products
(4 results)
