STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING CRITICAL THINKING

January 13, 2014

Winter Assessment and Development Day

Jane Fiske

HOW EFFECTIVE A CRITICAL THINKER AM I?SCALE OF 1-5 (5=HIGHEST)

I live as though critical thinking is a priority in all areas of my life.

I strive to form the most well-reasoned beliefs possible. I always try to support my beliefs with thoughtful reasons

and compelling evidence. I am very open-minded and view situations from many

different perspectives. I am acutely aware of how my personal “lenses” shape

and color what I experience. I carefully evaluate the information that I received and

the sources that provide it for accuracy and credibility. I am an insightful, powerful, and confident critical thinker.

5-STEPS TO IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKINGStep 1: Define the issue clearly.Step 2: Consider all the possible choices.Step 3: Gather all relevant information and evaluate the pros and cons of each possible choice.Step 4: Select the choice that seems to best meet the needs of the situation.Step 5: Implement a plan of action and then monitor the results, making necessary adjustments.

HOW CREATIVE AM I?SCALE OF 1-5 (5=HIGHEST)

I believe creativity is important. I am willing to take creative risks. I make time to use my imagination. My actions reflect my own ideas. I am usually “mindful”: sensitive, aware,

focused. I approach life with a questioning attitude. I often involve others in my creative process.

4-STEPS TO IMPROVE CREATIVE THINKING

Step 1: Understand and trust the creative process.

Step 2: Eliminate the “Voice of Criticism.”

Step 3: Establish a creative environment.

Step 4: Make creativity a priority.

QuestioningVital for Effective Critical and Creative Thinking

BLOOM’S TAXONOMY

IDENTIFYING REPORTS, INFERENCES, AND JUDGMENTSVisuals Text

News Media Internet Articles Newspapers

EVALUATION OF NEW MEDIA

Criteria 1: AuthorityCriteria 2: AccuracyCriteria 3: ObjectivityCriteria 4: Currentness

RELATE AND ORGANIZEINFORMATION AND CONCEPTS

CLASS PROJECTS

Assessment Tool Personal Symbolism Collage Creative Art Work Art Event Attendance Debate Teams Position Paper Presentation

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Chaffee, John. Thinking Critically. 10th ed., Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Publishing, 2012.

Vaughn, The Power of Critical Thinking. 4th ed., New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.

Browne, M. Neil and Keeley, Stuart M., Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking .4th ed., New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc., 2007.

http://www.criticalthinking.org// Major website on critical thinking

http://www.umb.edu/academics/caps/degree/creative-thinking University of Mass, Boston Program

http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Keyword/8425/creative-thinking Microsoft research

http://www.ocpe.gmu.edu/programs/mgmt_org_dev/creative_thinking.php George Mason University