Synchronous discussion in online learning: Investigating students’ critical thinking

Prilla Lukis Wediyantoro, Malikhatul Lailiyah, Karlina Karadila Yustisia

Abstract


Many studies mentioned the importance of fostering higher education students’ critical thinking skills in order to prepare them for their future career. However, many scholars contend that in online courses, critical thinking is difficult to accomplish. Understanding this gap, this paper aims to report the using of Socratic Questions strategy on synchronous discussion as the bridge to promote students’ critical thinking in online learning environment. Twenty two Diploma 3 students who were enrolled in Intermediate Reading course, participated in this study. Due to the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, this class was switched into online learning. To gather the data, the content of participants’ individual post will be analysed to know the depth of students’ critical thinking based on Yang et al.’s (2005) model. In addition, both quantitative and qualitative analysis of students’ post will be applied to measure the effects of Socratic questioning on students’ critical thinking in synchronous discussion in online learning.  The result revealed that Socratic questions strategy were successfully improve students’ depth of critical thinking.

 

DOI: 10.26905/enjourme.v5i2.5205


Keywords


critical thinking, synchronous discussion, online learning, high order thinking, Socratic questions strategy

Full Text:

PDF

References


Bai, H. (2009). Facilitating students’ critical thinking in online discussion: An instructor’s experience. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 8(2), 156–164.

Chee, S., Tunku, C., Rahman, A., Phaik, C., Cheah, K., & Rahman College, T. A. (2009). Teacher Perceptions of Critical Thinking Among Students and its Influence on Higher Education. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 20(2), 198–206. http://www.isetl.org/ijtlhe/

Cojocariu, V.-M., & Butnaru, C.-E. (2014). Asking Questions – Critical Thinking Tools. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 128, 22–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.112

Darabi, A., Arrastia, M. C., Nelson, D. W., Cornille, T., & Liang, X. (2011). Cognitive presence in asynchronous online learning: A comparison of four discussion strategies. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 27(3), 216–227. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2010.00392.x

Dwyer, C. P., Hogan, M. J., & Stewart, I. (2014). An integrated critical thinking framework for the 21st century. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 12, 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2013.12.004

Elder, L., & Paul, R. (1998). The Role of Socratic Questioning in Thinking, Teaching, and Learning. 71(5), 297–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/00098659809602729

Facione, P. A. (2000). The Disposition Toward Critical Thinking: Its Character, Measurement, and Relationship to Critical Thinking Skill. Informal Logic, 20(1), 61–84. https://doi.org/10.22329/il.v20i1.2254

Garrison, D. R., & Cleveland-Innes, M. (2005). in Online Learning : Interaction Is Not Enough. American Journal of Distance Education, 19(3), 133–148. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15389286ajde1903

Lee, M., Kim, H., & Kim, M. (2014). The effects of Socratic questioning on critical thinking in web-based collaborative learning. 18(2), 285–302. https://doi.org/10.1080/16823206.2013.849576

Puteh, M. S., & Hamid, F. A. (2014). A Test on Critical Thinking Level of Graduating Bachelor of Accounting Students: Malaysian Evidence. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 116, 2794–2798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.658

Richardson, J. C., & Ice, P. (2010). Investigating students’ level of critical thinking across instructional strategies in online discussions. Internet and Higher Education, 13(1–2), 52–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2009.10.009

Sautter, P. (2007). Designing discussion activities to achieve desired learning outcomes: Choices using mode of delivery and structure. Journal of Marketing Education, 29(2), 122–131. https://doi.org/10.1177/0273475307302014

Slagter van Tryon, P. J., & Bishop, M. J. (2009). Theoretical foundations for enhancing social connectedness in online learning environments. Distance Education, 30(3), 291–315. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587910903236312

Snyder, L. G., & Snyder, M. J. (2008). Teaching critical thinking and problem solving skills. Journal of Cellular Plastics, 50(2), 90. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021955X7000600203

Yang, Y. C., Newby, T. J., & Bill, R. L. (2005). American Journal of Distance Using Socratic Questioning to Promote Critical Thinking Skills Through Asynchronous Discussion Forums in Distance Learning Environments. 19(3), 163–181. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15389286ajde1903




DOI: https://doi.org/10.26905/enjourme.v5i2.5205

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.




EnJourMe (English Journal of Merdeka) : Culture, Language, and Teaching of English
D3 English Program University of Merdeka Malang


 indexwidth="150"crossref 

 

 

Jl. Terusan Halimun 11B Malang, 65146, East Java, Indonesia
Email enjourme.journal@unmer.ac.id.

StatCounter - Free Web Tracker and Counter View My Stats

 

 

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Atrribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.