Training for critical thinking has become a primary focus in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics throughout the world.

Excellence in STEM education starts with enrolling the best students and educating them to become the best professionals and graduates possible. Deans, educational researchers and teaching faculty in STEM programs now use one or more tailored critical thinking measures to assess learning outcomes achievement, in externally funded research investigations, for selective admissions, advising, accreditation self studies and more.

Educators use Insight Assessment research-based critical thinking measurement tools to quickly and easily document the critical thinking of prospective or current students and graduates.

The data gathered with these tools are valuable for admissions purposes, educational research, accreditation, learning outcomes assessment and program evaluation. Thinking well is the key to effective problem solving and decision making. Research has demonstrated that explicit teaching for thinking is both essential and effective for achieving learning outcomes aimed at training reasoning skills. Insight Assessment provides a comprehensive range of critical thinking tests. Each has been calibrated to measure the reasoning skills and habits of mind of targeted students.

Instruments of choice for STEM programs and NSF funded studies include:

• The California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) is being used worldwide to identify students with the critical thinking skills needed to engage a STEM curriculum and develop competence in scientific reasoning. This in-depth, college level instrument profiles eight cognitive areas and benchmarks students/applicants against their peers in undergraduate and graduate level STEM education. Ask us about available options for high performing groups.
• The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI)assesses the seven mindset attributes universally endorsed as essential for science-based inquiry and for success in STEM professions.
• The STEM Thinking Skills Test measures quantitative reasoning skills at the college level. This assessment can be predictive of potential success in subjects such as mathematics, statistics, the natural and behavioral sciences, engineering, finance, economics, computer science, architecture, and information technology.
• The Test of Everyday Reasoning (TER) is widely used in 2 year colleges and student bridge initiatives aimed at supporting college entry. Recent National Science Foundation grants are using this assessment to examine the effectiveness of science education in pre-college and first year college students.
• It is often paired with California Measure of Mental Motivation Level lll (CM3 lll) to measure the degree to students are cognitively engaged and mentally motivated toward intellectual activities.
• The EDUCATE INSIGHT assessments provide objective metrics on the strength and weaknesses of core components of K-12 student thinking skills including mathematical reasoning as well as documenting key thinking attributes such as learning orientation, creative problem solving and mental focus.
• The Quant Q targets reasoning skills in relation to quantitative problems. The instrument is designed to measure one’s ability to think beyond the calculations themselves in order to reason to the proper applications of those calculations.

Insight Assessment tests of critical thinking skills rely on case-based scenarios to provide objective, valid and reliable measures of these essential problem solving and decision making skills. Comparison group percentiles are available for undergraduate and graduate programs. Many of our cost-effective testing tools are available in multiple languages.  Flexible assessment administration options are available.

Contact us to discuss your testing needs or to learn more about our products.