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Cooperative Learning and Critical Thinking in Face to Face and Online Environments

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Technology and Innovation in Learning, Teaching and Education (TECH-EDU 2020)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1384))

Abstract

The importance of developing higher order skills in higher education students is a recommendation of several international organizations, so that they are able to respond to the challenges of 21st century society. The literature mentions several methodologies with these potentialities, including Cooperative Learning (CL), especially in presential learning environments. This study aims at comparing the effectiveness of CL in the development of Critical Thinking (CT) skills of higher education students in Portugal in two learning environments: face-to-face and distance learning. A quasi-experimental study was implemented, with pre and posttest, using the Critical and Creative Thinking Test (1.Revista Lusófona de Educação 44:173–189) with 32 students of the 3rd year of the Basic Education Program, distributed in two groups: 1) the presential group (academic year 2018/19) and 2) the distance learning group through synchronous sessions and virtual rooms in small groups (academic year 2019/20). The results show that there are no statistically significant differences in the total score of the Critical and Creative Thinking Test or with regard to the different skills assessed by the Critical and Creative Thinking Test: interpretation, analysis, explanation, evaluation, synthesis and creativity. In line with recent research, these results, to be confirmed at a larger scale, point out that CL is equally effective in promoting CT for students in face-to-face or in distance synchronous learning environments.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    Helena Silva, José Lopes, Eva Morais & Caroline Dominguez

  2. CIIE (Centre for Research and Intervention in Education), Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Helena Silva & José Lopes

  3. CMAT (Centre of Mathematics), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Eva Morais

  4. LabCTD-CIDTFF (Research Centre on Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Caroline Dominguez

Authors
  1. Helena Silva
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  2. José Lopes
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  3. Eva Morais
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  4. Caroline Dominguez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helena Silva .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    Arsénio Reis

  2. University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    João Barroso

  3. University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    J. Bernardino Lopes

  4. University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Tassos Mikropoulos

  5. National Hua-Lien University of Education, Hualien City, Taiwan

    Chih-Wen Fan

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Silva, H., Lopes, J., Morais, E., Dominguez, C. (2021). Cooperative Learning and Critical Thinking in Face to Face and Online Environments. In: Reis, A., Barroso, J., Lopes, J.B., Mikropoulos, T., Fan, CW. (eds) Technology and Innovation in Learning, Teaching and Education. TECH-EDU 2020. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1384. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73988-1_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73988-1_12

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