Critical Thinking in Engineering Education

The need to enhance critical thinking skills has been identified by employers but if often lacking clarity in engineering education. This paper reflects on the development and delivery of a workshop aimed to explore instructors' perceptions and integration of critical thinking in their teaching. The workshop encompassed discussions on critical thinking models and frameworks, the application of a specific framework consisting of five action terms and the sharing of two examples of the integration of critical thinking in courses. The format included a combination of short presentations with small group discussions. The workshop format and content were beneficial in demystifying critical thinking, increased awareness of its presence in teaching and emphasized the benefits of reflective teaching and of a workshop format combining context, examples, tools, and group discussions.