Teaching Critical Thinking Skills in Business Education

This study was designed to identify effective strategies for teaching critical thinking skills in business education courses. Sixty-seven high school business teachers, representing 50 high schools in North Carolina, participated in the study. The study's results indicate that, with careful thought and planning, business teachers at all levels can encourage critical thinking in students by encouraging open discussion, allowing time for thinking, encouraging improvement, and promoting interactive learning. The most effective traditional teaching methods were identified as case studies or problem-solving techniques, simulations, group and individual projects, and group discussions. The most effective testing methods for encouraging critical thinking were found to be practical task completion, case studies, and argumentative essays.