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Fostering Critical Thinking and Mature Valuing Across The Curriculum
with Craig E. Nelson
Option 1 (Time 4 to 7 hours): Sophistication in thinking is prerequisite to many of the goals of liberal and professional education. We will both examine two major frameworks for fostering critical thinking: cognitive science (mental models and misconceptions, novice v. expert distinctions, models for thinking about thinking) and intellectual and ethical development (especially Perry; Belenky et al. and Baxter Magolda) and explore the implications of each for classroom practices. An underlying theme will be that often critical thinking can be fostered best by increasing the ratio of support offered for a given level of challenge. Processes: Mini-lectures alternating with writing and small- and whole-group discussions of applications to your own teaching.
Option 2 (Time 4 to 7 hours): The basic question with critical thinking is: Why is it so difficult for students to acquire? We will touch on several answers to this question, building from an core that asks what we can do tomorrow in the classroom. Logically, in order to think critically in higher order ways one needs: a) to understand that there is meaningful uncertainty involved (something that needs to be decided rather than memorized), b) to be able to discern what is being compared or should be compared, c) to know that in the face of uncertainly all answers are usually NOT equally valid and d) to understand and be able to apply criteria to distinguish which of the alternatives are either better or terrible.
However, helping students get the analysis straight is only half of our task as teachers. For most students, critical thinking is a deeply social enterprise. The most dramatic gains by far (including, for example, no Fs in college calculus classes) come from combining careful structuring of social dynamics with the step-wise provision of analytical tools.
I will present spurts of theory (cognitive development, for example) and example applications. Writing and peer discussion will help make sure that each participant goes home with new ideas that can be implemented in class next week.
