Class activities
There are many class activities that can generate critical thinking, such as brainstorming, group presentations, peer editing. When students ask each others how they can organize the presentation, what devices they can use to enhance their presentation, when they go over each others writing assignments, discuss their recommendations for correction- all these give students the opportunities to reason, to question, and to make judgments. The instructor has to make sure though that everybody in the group participates in the planning and in the discussions.
Fraternidad,
Like the ideas you have shared with us on how to engage all students in the learning process. This is so important because each student needs to leave the course with a specific skill set so that requires that each contribute to the learning process. The result will be increased student satisfaction and increased competence.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
1.Allow for more collaboration on rich content between students (student-centered)
2.Provide higher level thinking questions
3.Give ample wait time
4.Increase critical thinking through authentic instruction
5.Follow the DETAILS of your TEKS
6.Know the vertical alignment of your TEKS and collaborate with other grade levels.
Steven,
Great list for creating a sequence of processing when it comes to critical thinking skill development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In-class exercises in which no grade is imposed allows students to relax a little and take the time to think critically. I have an elaborate exercise in which students must analyze test results and determine whether they useful to their diagnosis or not. They are then required to determine which test results they would like to have in order to come up with a diagnosis. At no point in the exercise are they required to perform any tests. We have lab time for that. They goal is to come to an exact and correct diagnosis in the least amount of tests. This challenges them to think more and guess less. They are typically slow to get into it but before long they are begging to do more. It does however require a fair amount of class time and instructor development.
I cant stress enough how important it is to make sure we as instructors facilitate this correctly. Learning stations can be set up to help facilitate the learning experience. However, frequent check ins must be made to ensure all students are interacting.
