The research investigates the impact of smart learning technologies (SLTs) on students’ critical thinking (CT). It pays special attention to the increased digitalisation of education and the need to develop key cognitive skills in students in the era of globalisation. The research examines the role of SLTs in the development of CT skills in university students. The sample involved 318 participants from three universities in Beijing. The scholars selected a quasi-experimental design and divided students into an experimental group using SLTs and a control group following the traditional teaching approach. The CT skills of the participants were assessed using the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Assessment (WGCTA). The assessment took place before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the research interventions. The experimental group revealed a significant improvement in the post-test compared to the pre-test, with the mean score increasing from 30.35 to 32.82. In contrast, the control group had a decrease in the scores, with the mean score decreasing from 30.94 to 29.96. These changes highlight the positive impact of SLTs on the development of CT skills in students. The research used statistical analysis, including paired t-tests and t-tests for independent samples, to assess the significance of these changes. A paired t-test for the experimental group revealed a mean difference of -2.47 between pre- and post-test scores, with a two-sided p-value of 0.000, indicating the statistically significant positive change. For the control group, a paired t-test showed a mean difference of -0.98 with a two-sided p-value of 0.000, indicating a statistically significant reduction. T-tests for independent samples allowed for comparing the post-test results of both groups and confirmed the findings. The test revealed a significant difference in post-test scores with a p-value of 0.008 and proved the effectiveness of SLTs in CT development in contrast to traditional methods. The research demonstrates the benefits of using SLTs for CT development among university students. The results suggest that integrating technology into educational programmes can be an effective strategy for developing core cognitive skills in students and eliminating the challenges of the digital age. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.
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