Immersion-based embedding of CT skills in systematically designed subject matter instruction¶

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (1 for, 1 mixed) · 1 study (1 causal), q3 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The article contrasts the Infusion approach, in which students are explicitly trained on how to apply CT skills as part of subject matter instruction, with the Immersion approach, which "aims to help students acquire the desired CT skills as they construct knowledge and skills of a subject matter domain, without explicit instruction about desired CT skills". The study's intervention followed the Immersion approach: CT skills (reasoning, argument analysis, hypothesis testing, likelihood and uncertainty analysis, and problem solving and decision-making) were embraced as part of regular domain-specific classroom activities rather than taught separately. The pattern operated through whole-task problems, demonstrations, coached group application, and tutorial sessions where students defended solutions.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

Subject matter instruction must be systematically designed so that domain-specific activities implicitly target the desired CT skills

Constraints¶

The Immersion-based intervention improved domain-specific CT but did not yield a significantly greater domain-general CT gain than regular instruction

Target Learners¶

first-year university physics majors

Learning Goals¶

critical thinking skills embedded within domain-specific instruction

Claims¶

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

Tiruneh, D. T., Weldeslassie, A. G., Kassa, A., Tefera, Z., De Cock, M., & Elen, J. (2016). Systematic design of a learning environment for domain-specific and domain-general critical thinking skills. Education Tech Research Dev, 64, 481–505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-015-9417-2

Page metadata

Field	Value
`type`	`design`
`id`	`immersion-ct-embedding-pattern`
`title`	`Immersion-based embedding of CT skills in systematically designed subject matter instruction`
`description`	`The article contrasts the Infusion approach, in which students are explicitly trained on how to apply CT skills as part of subject matter instruction, with the Immersion approach, which "aims to help students acquire...`
`status`	`review`
`generated`	by `process:settle-candidates` on `2026-10-29`
`trust`	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
`sources`	1 — `tiruneh-2016`

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