Learning Experiences and the Development of Critical Thinking in Students of Early Childhood Education at Public Universities – 2023

Introduction: This study explores how learning experiences at public universities impact the development of critical thinking in early education students in 2023. Objective: To determine the influence of learning experiences on the critical thinking of early education students, identifying effective didactic strategies for its promotion. Methodology: Utilizing a quantitative approach, data were collected from 247 early education students across various public universities in Peru through structured surveys. These surveys were designed to measure students' perceptions of their learning experiences and their impact on critical thinking, including items related to communicative, reflective, and problem-solving competencies. The instruments' validation was ensured through reliability and validity analysis, and data were statistically analyzed using SPSS V.25 software to examine the relationships between variables. Results: The findings indicated a positive and significant correlation between carefully designed learning experiences and the enhancement of students' critical thinking. This link underscores the critical value of adopting didactic strategies focused on fostering critical thinking, showing that when students are immersed in learning environments that challenge their abilities and promote reflection, their capacity to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information significantly improves. Conclusions: The findings highlight the necessity for universities to continuously implement and adapt their pedagogical methods to foster meaningful and critical learning. This research contributes to understanding how educational experiences can be designed to enhance critical thinking, providing a foundation for future curricular and pedagogical developments in higher education.