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Perspectives on Critical Thinking through Online Discussion Forums in Engineering Mathematics

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Technological Developments in Networking, Education and Automation

Abstract

This study set out to examine the online mathematical communication and measure the progress of critical thinking (CT) skills of students that occurred in collaborative groups, during two collaborative problem solving sessions via online Discussion Forums (DFs), in a first year Engineering Mathematics unit which spans 14 weeks. It was found that the calculated CT scores have improved from the first to the second DF session. The CT scores were connected with moderation techniques associated with Socratic Questioning and reflection scaffolds, during the first session, but not in the second. Students’ perceptions on the DFs were analyzed and was found that majority of the students found the DF sessions quite challenging to their thinking skills and profitable for developing their problem solving skills.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak Campus), Sarawak, Malaysia

    S. M. Jacob

  2. University Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia

    H. K. Sam

Authors
  1. S. M. Jacob
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  2. H. K. Sam
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. M. Jacob .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, University of Bridgeport, University Avenue 221, Bridgeport, 06604, USA

    Khaled Elleithy

  2. School of Engineering, University of Bridgeport, University Avenue 221, Bridgeport, 06604, USA

    Tarek Sobh

  3. Dept. Civil & Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic University, Jay Street 333, Brooklyn, 11201, USA

    Magued Iskander

  4. Dept. Civil & Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic University, Jay Street 333, Brooklyn, 11201, USA

    Vikram Kapila

  5. Old Dominion University, Monarch Way 4111, Norfolk, 23508, USA

    Mohammad A. Karim

  6. School of Engineering, University of Bridgeport, University Avenue 221, Bridgeport, 06604, USA

    Ausif Mahmood

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© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

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Jacob, S.M., Sam, H.K. (2010). Perspectives on Critical Thinking through Online Discussion Forums in Engineering Mathematics. In: Elleithy, K., Sobh, T., Iskander, M., Kapila, V., Karim, M., Mahmood, A. (eds) Technological Developments in Networking, Education and Automation. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9151-2_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9151-2_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-9150-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-90-481-9151-2

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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