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Peer Review

Think 101

Reviewed:
Mar 24, 2019 by Psychology
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 5.0 stars
Content Quality: 5.0 stars
Effectiveness: 5.0 stars
Ease of Use: 5.0 stars
Overview:

Think 101x: The Science of Everyday Thinking is an archived edX course that was developed via the University of Queenland's UQx project. The website offers the following description: "An interactive, modern course designed to promote critical thinking. This free, online course emphasizes the scientific method, inquiry and cognitive distortions." 

Type of Material:

 

  • A series of video presentations.
Recommended Uses:

 

  • The videos would be useful in class for reflection on how we think, ways to change our thinking, and how to change the world. The entire series can be used or just specific sections.
  • Sections can be watched on their own and then discussed in class, or short pieces can be shown in class.
Technical Requirements:

 

  • The site runs well on all tested browsers (e.g., Firefox, Chrome, and Edge).
Identify Major Learning Goals:

 

  • The psychology of everyday thinking is covered from several aspects including the scientific method, tools for improving everyday thinking, tips and tricks for changing people’s minds, techniques for learning and retaining information longer, and how to distinguish fact from fiction.
Target Student Population:

 

  • The site is useful for undergraduate students studying thinking or decision making in Psychology, Cognitive Psychology or just with general interest in the area.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

None.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

 

  • The material covered includes the importance of experimentation, practical areas such as extraordinary claims (e.g., the paranormal and coincidences), and health claims (e.g., risks of vaccination and the placebo effect). Psychological research is presented to help individuals understand and improve their decision making processes.
Concerns:

None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

 

  • As testimonials, students from around the world include their experiences with the course and the impact it has had on them personally as well as through their projects.
  • The psychology of everyday thinking requires no prior experience in the field.
Concerns:

None.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

 

  • The videos are sectioned by episodes and then by smaller sections with length noted for each video.
  • Videos watched on the site include accurate closed captioning on the right of the video screen.
Concerns:

None.

Other Issues and Comments:

The course is free, or can be taken for a verified certificate for a modest fee of $99.

Creative Commons:
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