CAN EXTENSIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY BE AN EFFECTIVE MEASURE OF CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS?

Since 2006, the unemployment rate in the United States has ranged from the mid 4% range to the upper 9% range. As rates ease downward jobs are created and filled. Organizations filling positions have several desires in... [ view full abstract ]

Since 2006, the unemployment rate in the United States has ranged from the mid 4% range to the upper 9% range. As rates ease downward jobs are created and filled. Organizations filling positions have several desires in common when it comes to hiring their employees. Strong critical thinking skills are one of the top attributes desired, but one of the hardest to determine, most costly to assess, and one that takes a great deal of time to measure if assessed accurately. Universities and other educational organizations suffer the same symptoms measuring critical thinking skills in students as they progress through degrees and programs (ie have students gained necessary critical thinking skills to prepare them for the future?).
Large players participating in the space of critical thinking assessment are ETS (HEIghten Exam for Critical Thinking) and the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA). These assessments require a significant amount of time to measure critical thinking (assessment time and lead time to receive final grades), can be costly, and because they are language based, can be subject to bias in testing. Technology is used by both ETS and the CLA on the “frontend” to assess critical thinking and provides a conduit for test-takers to take and submit the ETS and CLA exams.
The purpose of this writing is to examine the validity of utilizing more extensive use of technology in assessing critical thinking. Specifically, we will explore, examine, and validate a new critical thinking product that goes beyond the “frontend” of critical thinking assessment, delivering “backend” scoring, calculation, and determination of results as well as communication immediately upon completion, to both the test-taker and organization.