Threats to the validity of the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA+) as a measure of critical thinking skills and implications for Learning Gain

The University of Reading Learning Gain project is a three-year longitudinal project to test and evaluate a range of available methodologies and to draw conclusions on what might be the right combination of instruments for the measurement of Learning Gain in higher education. This paper analyses the validity of a measure of critical thinking skills, the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA+) and the implications of using this standardised test as a proxy for Learning Gain. The paper reviews five inferences regarding the interpretations and use of test scores: construct representation, scoring, generalisation, extrapolation and decision-making. Each section reviews some of the available evidence in support of the claims the CLA+ makes and the threats to their validity. The possible impact of these issues on Learning Gain in the UK is considered

Changing the educational beliefs of teachers through an interdisciplinary online teaching programme: are business teachers different from teachers of other disciplines?

Due to larger class sizes in business education, a common assumption amongst business teachers is that using a student-centred approach is more difficult. However, an important development in business education is the increased learning possibilities brought by ICT that suggest a more individualised learning experience for students is possible. Nonetheless, many business teachers appear reluctant to embrace technology in the classroom. An online teacher training programme in a cross-institutional partnership was followed by 16 business teachers from three institutes, working with 49 teachers from other disciplines. Data were gathered in an explorative, quantitative manner using the Teacher Beliefs and Intentions questionnaire and TPACK questionnaire using a pre-post test design. The results indicate that business teachers are more persistent in their beliefs and intentions towards knowledge transmission, while teachers from other disciplines became more student-centred. Given that this intensive innovative training programme seemed to have limited impact, this implies that business schools may need to reconsider their professionalization activities for academic staff