A Four-Step Process for Critical Thinking Instruction
This co sponsored presentation will feature two speakers who will impart some of their wisdom and own critical thoughts on the subjects of critical thinking instruction for students and resources and activities for teachers.
David GANN
David Gann will present on the materials and resources for critical thinking instruction that he has developed over the past four years. These include:
(1) Critically Minded, a fourteen-episode podcast aimed at explicit instruction of critical thinking as a language-based skill set.
(2) Online text reconstruction exercises (TREs) of two kinds, the first focusing on argument indicators (AIs), and the second focusing on dialectical discourse items (DDIs) commonly used to engage in various modes of communication related to negotiating shared understandings.
(3) Online asynchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) in which learners put the recently learned language and metalanguage to use in real communication and meaningful collaboration.
(4) In-class group discussion where learners use the same or similar language in face-to-face communication. He will also discuss the assessment tools that he has developed for tracking students’ progress.
Attendees will gain an enhanced understanding of critical thinking instruction and a practical understanding of the resources which they are invited to use in their own classes.
James DUNN
Critical Thinking involves analyzing the information around us to inform decisions and influence the choices we make. Neuro-Linguistics gives us activities that open up new sources of information for the student in that the way one communicates represents the way one thinks. By demonstrating this to students, we contribute to their ability to be more rational, reasonable, and empathetic in their lives. Showing students trends in thinking styles, for example audio thinkers versus visual thinkers, allows them to use this information to better relate with people. Integration of Neuro-Linguistics also introduces students to vocabulary/phrase correlates which exhibit different thinking styles, in a way that keeps them engaged. Activities will be introduced that go beyond "listening for info," and which expand the students’ skills to utilize more information in their everyday lives. Teachers will rise above traditional vocabulary instruction as students' critical thinking and listening skills are improved with perception expansion exercises. This "hands-on" presentation will give participants a chance to experience these types of activities first-hand and discuss/share ideas for implementing these types of exercises into their own classrooms.
The presentations will start at 1.30pm, but the doors will open at 1pm.
Each presentation will be 1 hour in length with time for Q & A at the end and a then a break between presentations.
