Taking some pressure off school teachers preparing post-16 pupils for higher education across the UK and around the world, the University of Westminster has partnered with Future Learn to build and launch an online short course on critical thinking and research skills with the help of world-class researchers and lecturers.
The course is launched in response to post-16 teachers expressing an acute need for materials to support learners with developing the essential skills of critical thinking and research. Acquiring a firm foundation for these skills help bridge the gap between school and university, and thus enhances social mobility.
Teachers can use the course as an assistant in supporting students undertaking Non-examination assessments (NEAs) as part of their A-Levels, or who are working on an Extended Project Qualification (EPQs). School pupils, first-year university students or anyone needing a refresher in critical thinking can also undertake the course independently.
Being the first public-facing Future Learn course of the University, the six-week long programme produced by the School of Media and Communications of the University of Westminster requires a commitment of up to two hours per week. The course is available from 19 September, however participants can sign up and start it anytime.
It guides the learner in understanding the key factors and processes behind critical thinking. By the end of the course, learners will be able to explore secondary research methods, including access to open access peer-reviewed works; critique and evaluate a wide range of research conducted by others; demonstrate the collection of data from a wide range of secondary sources; synthesise ideas developed through secondary research; and design a research project, such as those needed for NEAs and EPQs.
The course allows great flexibility for teacher as it can be used in a variety of ways including using it in a classroom environment; asking students to complete parts of the course for homework between the live sessions; running an intensive week of workshop using this course as a backbone; or making it a half-term activity.
Before embarking on this course, teachers can also access a separate teacher training session taking place on 28 September, preparing them to make the most of this critical thinking programme.
Participating schools can also benefit from additional on-campus activities from the University of Westminster before and after undertaking the course as well as additional materials, and career and professional development sessions.
Doug Specht, Course Leader and Director of Teaching, Learning and Quality Assurance in the School of Media and Communications at the University of Westminster, said: “We have been working with a number of schools for the last five years, and with more and more teachers across the UK, and indeed the world, asking us for support in teaching these critical cross-disciplinary skills. This partnership with Future Learn will enable us to reach more pupils than ever, providing them and their teachers with support in developing critical approaches to learning that will benefit all pupils, whether they are planning to head to university or directly into work.”
Join or learn more about the course titled Critical Thinking in practice: Key skills for NEAs and EPQs.
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