Implementing Training And Assessment Of Critical Thinking Generic Skill Within Statistics Subjects In Engineering Degrees

In this study, we describe a teaching experiment carried out by a group of lecturers in the Statistics Department. These lecturers are involved in the training and assessment of "critical thinking" skills as part of the institutional project centred on generic skills at the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. This generic skill is an integral part of the statistics subjects in engineering degrees.Lecturers designed different activities that the students have carried out over the academic year. These activities were linked to the abilities involved in critical thinking. The activities required ongoing assessment from a training point of view. Thus, the students were aware of their improvement in this generic skill. Additionally, students were evaluated through exams with questions in different formats related to the proposed activities (PoliformaT exams, tests and peer review).Suitable materials and activities for training and assessment of critical thinking were developed. In addition, a rubrics-based evaluation system was proposed. Following this, the outcomes perceived in relation to the students' critical thinking skills were analysed. Finally, the teaching staff and the students' opinions were collected through surveys.The group implemented this new methodology in the regular lessons of the statistics subjects. After this first phase, the weaknesses and strengths of the methodology were identified. All in all, the results of the surveys showed that the methodology produced good results and was well appreciated by students and lecturers