Measuring critical thinking in problem solving through online discussion forums in first year university mathematics

The first year in university offers an exciting and confusing experience for students as they transit from the secondary school environment. The adaptation is tested through new learning environments, and higher expectations' The inevitable gap created seems pronounced in Mathematics too. The present study focuses on a group of first year university students who take up a Mathematics subject. They are exposed to the rigors of open ended or ill structured problem solving through online discussion forums, as a mechanism to initiate and encourage higher order mathematical thinking and a culture of inquiry. Their thought processes are analyzed through a critical thinking model; their responses to the said approach are sought through a survey. The problem being pursued by the authors here is to measure critical thinking during problem solving in Mathematics among the first year university students. The online discussion forums were used as a medium to expose students to the facets of open ended/ill structured problem solving.