Critical Thinking Assessment Test (CAT) Project

Critical thinking and problem solving skills are an important part of students’ undergraduate core competencies. We have a unique opportunity to facilitate a university-wide project to provide evidence of student critical thinking abilities.

The CAT Instrument, designed at Tennessee Technological University (TTU) and funded primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF), was used in our CAT Project Pilot at Texas A&M University in 2008-2009 AY, and will continue to be implemented this year.

Four important components are designed to measure critical thinking skills. It includes,

  • Evaluating information
  • Evaluating ideas and other points of view
  • Learning and problem solving
  • Communication

Because we appreciate your expertise in this area, we invite you to help with this Project by conducting a one-hour, pencil and paper, and short essay test with questions derived from real world situations during your upper-division class in fall 2009. All tests will be conducted with end-of-experience (mostly U4) students. Tests will be administered by the Office of Institutional Assessment during your class (no less than 10 students) and at your convenience.

This is a unique opportunity to receive evidence of students’ critical thinking abilities—one of the important components of students’ undergraduate core competencies. OIA will offer feedback in the form of an aggregated final report at the Department-level, as well as the University-level.

To contribute to this important project, please click “Intent to Participate Registration Form.”

Again, we are looking for end-of-experience (mostly U4) classes with 10 or more students to complete a one-hour, pencil and paper, and short essay test.

Student tests will be scored by university faculty. Results will be reviewed by university groups working with institutional assessment. Neither the student names nor the faculty names will be included in the analysis or any results. We hope that the information gleaned in this study will show areas where students’ critical thinking and real-world problem-solving skills are strong, as well as generate ideas for improvement.

You may submit your “Intent to Participate” form to Dr. Yan Zhang at assessment@tamu.edu.

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Loraine Phillips, by email: lhphillips@tamu.edu or telephone: (979) 862-2918.

Thanks for your help and support!