A DEVELOPMENT OF AN INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL BASED ON CASE METHOD ON THE IDEOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL THEORY COURSE TO ENHANCE CRITICAL THINKING FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTSIN CHINA

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to 1) Study the use of the Case Method in an instructional model demonstrates its effectiveness in enhancing critical thinking. 2) develop and assess the quality of an instructional model based on the case method to enhance the university students’ critical thinking, 3) implement and study the results of the university students’ critical thinking after learning with the instructional model based on the case method, and 4) evaluate students' satisfaction with the instructional model. Four research and development steps were used for instructional model development.

The research followed four developmental stages to design and implement the instructional model. A total of 51 third-year students from Guangxi University of Science and Technology were randomly selected using clustered random sampling from 10 classes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, the Effectiveness Index (EI), and content analysis.

The research instruments included pre- and post-tests designed according to the critical thinking components such as interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, and explanation. The instruments also comprised structured interviews with experts, an instructional model, an instructional model manual, a critical thinking assessment test, a satisfaction questionnaire, and evaluation forms.

The research results revealed as follows:

1. The research results revealed that the most effective methods for operationalizing the assessment of critical thinking were identified, along with an instructional model based on the case method that best enhances critical thinking in ideological and political theory courses.

2. The results of instructional model development revealed that:

2.1 An instructional model was developed with five components: principle, objective, content, learning process, and evaluation. The results also revealed that the learning process consists of five main steps: content explanation, case presentation, group discussion, synthesis and reflection, and assessment and feedback.

2.2 The developed instructional model was rated at the highest level of appropriateness (X̅= 4.64, SD= 0.58).

2.3 The developed instructional model based on the case method had an effective index of 0.58.

3. The implementation of the instructional model revealed that:

3.1 After learning the instructional model based on the case method, students excel in critical thinking (X̅=24.41, S.D.=1.28)

3.2 Students’ critical thinking was significantly higher after the implementation of the instructional model (p < 0.01).

4. Students' satisfaction with the instructional model learning process was rated at the highest level (X̅=4.72, SD= 0.56).

-