An Empirical Study Of Critical Thinking Abilities Development Of Taught Course Postgraduate Students (English Teaching) Through Cooperative Learning

Education laid emphasis on the cultivation of thinking ability, in which the critical thinking is considered as priority. Currently, an increasing number of studies on critical thinking were implicated in multiply areas in the western world. However, given the complex of study and difficulty of research, the function of critical thinking on education has also not yet to be elucidated in China. Therefore, our study aims to investigate the effect of critical thinking on Chinese English students and provide a potential approach for Chinese English students. Consequently, the critical thinking has been focused during the process of the English study behaviors and the contents are as followed:The elements of critical thinking will be displayed based on the classifications and conclusions of different critical thinking models ; Data of specific elements are analyzed in the cooperative learning among the 4 groups of English graduate students; Besides, what elements play an essential role in cooperative learning is demonstrated by comparing the ratio of the elements. The current research investigates postgraduate students'critical thinking abilities through cooperative learning. The result indicated:(1) All elements of the two-dimensional critical thinking model have been identified in cooperative learning. The presentation of analysis, inference and affective dispositions hold maximum percentages of other elements. But self-regulation is not identified in cooperative learning.(2) Cooperative learning can greatly improve students'enthusiasm in the learning process and increase their mutual discussion. Cooperative learning can stimulate their thinking and improve the ability of analysis and inference.(3) Critical thinking abilities have developed differently through cooperative learning. The element of analyzing argument, querying evidence and drawing conclusion have increased through cooperative learning; the element of clarifying meaning and assessing claims has decreased. And the element of self-regulation is almost not presented through this research.