title: Promotion of critical thinking in e-learning: a qualitative study on the experiences of instructors and students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the increasing popularity of e-learning programs, educational stakeholders are attempting to promote critical thinking in the virtual education system. This study aimed to explore the experiences of both the instructors and the students about critical thinking promotion within the virtual education system.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative study recruited the instructors and students from four academic disciplines provided by the Virtual School of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Tehran, Iran). All programs were master's degree programs and utilized a blended (combination of e-learning and face to face) training. Semistructured interviews with the participants were used to collect data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants had a variety of experiences about how to promote critical thinking. These experiences were conceptualized in four main themes, namely, instructional design, educational leadership and management, local evidence, and belief systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study clarified the factors affecting critical thinking promotion in e-learning. Not only the instructors but also the educational designers and leaders can benefit from our findings to improve the quality of virtual education programs and promote critical thinking.
authors.affiliation: E-learning in Medical Education Department, Virtual School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharib
authors.affiliation: E-learning in Medical Education Department, Virtual School, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zolfaghari
authors.affiliation: E-learning in Medical Education Department, Virtual School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mojtahedzadeh
authors.affiliation: E-learning in Medical Education Department, Virtual School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Aeen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Atoosa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gharib
keywords: distance education; framework; graduate education; learning; thinking