Developing Critical Thinking Skills in the Context of Causal Analysis

Critical thinking is a complex set of skills and dispositions that cover both analytical and creative thought processes that are crucial for success in the workplace.Educators can help students develop these skills and dispositions through explicit explanation and implicit practice within authentic case studies.The BlueDragon Integrated Problem-solving system (IPS) is an innovative and modern methodology that aids professionals in applying critical thinking skills to solve complex human-centered problems within organizations.A one-credit skills course was developed to guide undergraduate students through the BD1 BlueDragon Analyst training program, with the goals of teaching them the professional tool and of helping them further develop critical thinking skills.The first offering of the course, with 12 students from bioengineering, engineering, computer science, and architecture, demonstrated that BD1 is not only accessible to trainees at that level, but that it is an effective way for students to develop and practice critical thinking in the context of causal analysis.Assessment from both student work and a post-course questionnaire showed progress in the students' ability to apply critical thinking to organize information, generate good questions and lines of inquiry, and find deep-seated causes.This pilot course is translatable to any college or university due to the ease of access of the BlueDragon online material.