Engaging Students in Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: A Brief Review of the Literature

Problem solving and critical thinking skills are beneficial across all fields of collegiate studies and provide lasting value in the workplace and everyday life. In problem solving, students employ critical thinking skills in the analyses of problems and the synthesis and applications of previously learned concepts. For decades, researchers and academics have deliberated on ways to engage students in the classroom to train them in these skills. The collective research on teaching critical thinking and problem solving reveal overarching themes, which include student involvement, learning styles, student motivation, and instructor perceptions and behaviors.