‘Critical Thinking at University: An Introduction’ on the top 100 Free Online courses of all time.
Online course review website Class Central released their 2019 compilation of the Top 100 Free Online Courses of All Time and the University’s online course on Critical Thinking skills made it to the top 100!
With more than 13,000 MOOCs from almost a thousand universities globally, it can be overwhelming to know which courses are high quality. The top online courses of all time ranking is based on thousands of reviews written by learners.
The top course from the University of Leeds is ‘ Critical Thinking at University: An Introduction’ and it aims to develop vital critical thinking skills for students studying at university level.
The course is part of the academic skills courses portfolio at the University of Leeds aiming to improve skills required for academic study.
New critical thinking course
Library news Thursday 22 November 2018
I mprove your critical thinking skills with this new online course from Skills@Library.
Critical Thinking at University: An Introduction is a short course designed to help students at all levels hone those vital analytical skills.
The two-week course will guide you through the critical thinking skills you will need at university level. You will learn how to use practical strategies to develop these skills for success in your studies and beyond.
Regardless of where you are with your studies, this online course provides solid foundations to allow you to build a disciplined approach to reasoned analysis. These are skills that will serve you well through your academic career and throughout your life.
The course runs monthly. Join Critical Thinking at University now
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Critical thinking at university: an introduction
Critical thinking is a vital skill at university and later in life. University study introduces you to new concepts, and ways of learning and requires you to think critically. This course will show you what critical thinking skills you need at the university level, how they can be applied to different disciplines and how to use practical strategies to develop these skills for a successful academic life.
- Course duration: Eight hours to complete (two weeks, four hours of study per week).
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Timeline of critical thinking at university, this timeline provides examples of how critical thinking develops from year 1 to 3 at university..
Year 1 at university provides core modules that create the building blocks for your learning. You will be introduced to the core concepts in your discipline and build a broad knowledge base.
Scroll down to learn more
During Year 1 you will be working at Level 1 to:
- have an accurate and thorough grasp of key ideas, theories and ways of investigating your subject-area
- make good use of reading and other materials suggested by your tutor; ask questions and evaluate the material that you are working with
- exercise some independence as a learner – planning and undertaking your studies without close direction from tutors.
A biology student may be introduced to immunology, microbiology, genetics and cell biology. They may have the opportunity to develop critical thinking undertaking experimental techniques, data collection, analysis and interpretation.
A law student will be provided with a firm foundation in key legal areas such as contract and criminal and constitutional law. They may have the opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills by discussing and reflecting on different aspects of the criminal and legal processes. They may also consider different political and cultural contexts in which criminal law operates.
In Year 2 you build on this base of knowledge through more in-depth core modules. You can choose modules that are of specialist interest to you and you will become more adept at applying your knowledge in different contexts. You will start to work and research more independently.
During Year 2 you will be working at Level 2 to:
- make informed use of the language, concepts and theories of your academic discipline/s as tools for investigation and analysis
- engage with a wider, more complex and challenging range of sources than at Level 1, including appropriate material that you have identified on your own initiative
- undertake a more sophisticated and searching analysis of a topic that shows recognition of the context, complexity and subtlety of different perspectives, including your own
- exercise greater independence as a self-directed learner who is able to research a subject without close direction from tutors.
In mechanical engineering, opportunities to develop your critical thinking skills might involve being part of a group design project. The purpose of the project could be to design an autonomous electric-powered buggy to travel over a bumpy course and stop on a bulls-eye.
In politics, you may explore globally significant topics such as foreign aid. You would need to critically examine the key concepts, definitions and motivations underlining these practices and the actual impact they have.
In your final year, you will have a chance to undertake your own independent research project. This is where you can really demonstrate those critical thinking skills that you have developed over your time at university. You will have the opportunity to identify a research question or area of study of interest to you, and dedicate an extended period of time delving into a topic. Here you will be able to test hypotheses, design new products, create art work, deliver a performance, make radio documentaries or short films.
During Year 3 you will be working at Level 3 to:
- be fluent in using the language, concepts and theories of your academic discipline/s as tools for investigation and analysis
- engage with a wide range of complex and challenging sources including appropriate material that you have identified on your own initiative
- undertake sophisticated and searching analysis of a topic that engages with the context, complexity and subtlety of different perspectives, including your own
- devise your own research question, select appropriate methodologies, analyse and present your findings for at least one independent research project.
In media and communication studies, you may have the opportunity to work independently to produce a detailed specification for a new media project. This could be an app or animation involving pitching well-researched ideas in written and verbal form; implementing prototypes; presenting the ideas at key stages and critically evaluating the produced work.
In English you may undertake an in-depth analysis of a novel or series of novels. This would require developing your own evidenced-based arguments in response to a research question that you have devised. Such a project offers the opportunity to further develop skills in critical thinking; independent working; planning and organisation; analysis; and flexibility of thought. It also allows you to use your knowledge and research skills.
Course Code 50168635
Course has already taken place
Provider Library
Suitability This is a face-to-face session, suitable for all taught undergraduate students.
Date(s) Wednesday, March 16, 2022, 14:00 to 15:30
Max Places: 39
Description Evidence of critical thinking is often cited in marking criteria, but what does it mean to 'think critically'? This workshop will help you to think, read and write more critically. It will encourage you to consider your own thinking practices and become more confident in analysing and evaluating your own and other people’s arguments. By the end of this workshop, you would be better able to: • understand what critical thinking means at university; • employ models to think, read and write more critically; and • apply critical thinking models to examples. Location: Teaching Room 1, Level 1, Laidlaw Library
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COMMENTS
Critical thinking is a key skill that should be applied to all aspects of your studies. As a university student, you need to be able to think critically about the resources and information you use in your work.
Sep 4, 2019 · The top course from the University of Leeds is ‘Critical Thinking at University: An Introduction’ and it aims to develop vital critical thinking skills for students studying at university level. The course is part of the academic skills courses portfolio at the University of Leeds aiming to improve skills required for academic study.
Ensure your prepared for university by improving your critical thinking skills with this online course from the University of Leeds.
The two-week course will guide you through the critical thinking skills you will need at university level. You will learn how to use practical strategies to develop these skills for success in your studies and beyond.
What it does is, brings together all their theoretical studies and things like design history, art history, material culture studies, and finds a context to locate them in. Critical thinking, then, is their way of examining that information in that context.
Critical thinking is a vital skill at university and later in life. University study introduces you to new concepts, and ways of learning and requires you to think critically. This course will show you what critical thinking skills you need at the university level, how they can be applied to different disciplines and how to use practical ...
Critical Thinking at University: An Introduction © University of Leeds 2 of 2 • Joseph: When you're preparing for seminars, you're preparing for debates. Look at some controversial issues in your subject. There's quite a lot in economics, but I imagine there's quite a lot in all subjects really.
©University of Leeds 2019 Critical thinking Thinking critically about your topic The critical thinking model introduced in this course explained three phases: description, analysis and evaluation. Explore what each phase means: Description When you describe your topic you are thinking about the
This timeline provides examples of how critical thinking develops from Year 1 to 3 at university. Year 1 You will be introduced to the core concepts in your discipline and build a broad knowledge base.
• understand what critical thinking means at university; • employ models to think, read and write more critically; and • apply critical thinking models to examples.