Critical thinking (Role-playing simulation)

You are teaching a VET Electromechanics class where students are learning how to diagnose faults in electrical systems. During a practical activity, one student shows a solution they found in an online video and suggests that everyone should follow that method because it looks “faster and easier”.

Some students are ready to adopt the solution immediately, while others are unsure whether it is reliable or safe.

This situation reflects common workplace challenges, where technicians must evaluate information sources before applying them in practice.

Guide the discussion by helping students evaluate the reliability of the information, question assumptions, and compare alternative solutions before deciding how to proceed.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Scenario
Student: "Look, I found this video online, and it shows a much faster way to do this. We should just follow that."

What do you say?
Choose one of the following options.

A. “We will follow the method from the manual only.”

B. “If the video shows it working, you can try it.”

C. “Before we try it, let’s compare it with the method we learned.”

D. “What should we check to decide if this source is reliable?”

Exercise 2: Multiple choice

Scenario
Another student: "But the person in the video looks like a professional. Why would they post something wrong?”

How do you respond?
Choose one of the following options.

A. “Online content isn’t always trustworthy.”

B. “Maybe they are right, maybe not. It’s hard to know.”

C. “What information would help us verify their expertise?”

D. “How could we test whether this method works safely?”

Exercise 3: Multiple choice

Scenario
After the discussion, students ask what they should do next.

What do you suggest?
Choose one of the following options.

A. “Let’s ignore the video and continue with our instructions.”

B. “You can choose whichever method you prefer.”

C. “Let’s analyze the differences between both methods.”

D. “Let’s evaluate the risks, benefits, and evidence before deciding.”

Exercise 4: Reflection question

How confident are you in guiding learners to evaluate the reliability of information before applying it in practical tasks?
Choose one of the following options.

A. Not at all confident

B. Slightly confident

C. Moderately confident

D. Confident

E. Fully confident