Date Approved
4-18-2025
Graduate Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Education-Instruction and Curriculum: Secondary Education (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
College of Education
First Advisor
Sherie Klee
Academic Year
2024/2025
Abstract
Many students struggle to develop critical thinking skills, which are considered essential skills in life. While research supports the need for the development of these skills in young adults, many educators struggle to be successful in helping students develop these skills. Project-based learning (PBL) has been shown to be a successful tool in navigating the development of these skills, but research over the years has shown that teachers face many barriers in its implementation. In addition to the challenges of curriculum, students also face barriers in their development of these skills due to the exposure of trauma. Because of the variety of barriers that both teachers and students face in developing critical thinking skills, a PBL curriculum that is trauma-informed has been developed that integrates Direction Instruction and technology. By utilizing tools in addition to PBL, teachers can work to reduce or remove a variety of barriers through research-based practices that can help students enhance their critical thinking skills. While this curriculum is designed for secondary level science students, there are many aspects of the curriculum that can be applied to a variety of grade levels and classrooms.
ScholarWorks Citation
Coleman, Megan E., "Enhancing the development of critical thinking skills through the implementation of trauma-informed Project-Based Learning" (2025). Culminating Experience Projects. 563.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/563
