Problem-based Learning with Management Consulting Methods: a Pedagogy for Critical Thinking in Higher Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70301/Keywords:
Critical Thinking, Problem-based Learning, Consulting Methods, Business Education, STEM EducationAbstract
This research aims to address the critical gaps in critical thinking skills highlighted by the World Economic Forum and the National Association for Colleges and Employers, which reveal a disparity between employer expectations and graduate preparedness. By developing and evaluating Problem-Based Learning with Management Consulting Methods, this study seeks to enhance critical thinking education through combining management consulting with engaging problem-based learning in a culturally responsive pedagogy tailored for a diverse cohort. The research assesses the effectiveness of this approach using the California Critical Thinking Skills Test and explores variables such as gender and private/public high school education. This study employs a mixed-method design, combining longitudinal quantitative research (n = 177) from 18 nationalities with qualitative analysis of anonymous student questionnaires collected by the university's central research unit from 2023 to 2024. Quantitative outcomes are benchmarked against the meta-analysis by Huber and Kuncel (2016). Results indicate that a single semester of treatment is as effective as four years of traditional education to improve critical thinking skills, while multiple treatments with less than a one-year gap demonstrate even greater improvements.
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