scratch your brain: novel ways to interest students in critical thinking
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Scratch Your Brain: Novel Ways to Interest Students in Critical Thinking. Objectives. Briefly discuss definitions of “critical thinking.” Consider arguments and critical thinking. Consider characteristics of critical thinkers. Explore some novel critical thinking exercises. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Scratch Your Brain: Novel Ways to Interest Students in Critical Thinking
Objectives Briefly discuss definitions of “critical
thinking.” Consider arguments and critical
thinking. Consider characteristics of critical
thinkers. Explore some novel critical thinking
exercises. Discuss ways to use resources in
teaching.
Definition
What is YOUR definition of
critical thinking?
Common Definitions
Thinking “outside” the box
“Unlimited” thinking
Divergent thinking
Another Definition
“The intellectually disciplined
process of actively and skillfully
conceptualizing, applying, analyzing,
synthesizing, and evaluating information.”
The National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, 1987The National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, 1987
Another Definition
“Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and
evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.”
The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts And Tools, 5 ed.
Quote – Henry Ford
Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably why so few engage in it.
Arguments Inductive ReasoningDeductive Reasoning
Syllogism – major premise, minor premise, conclusion
Humans are mortalGreeks are humanTherefore, Greeks are mortal
Resource
http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/main.html
Make Your ArgumentMonty Python: Argument Clinic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDjCqjzbvJY&playnext=1&list=PL8263C81EE53E94FA
Visual Argument
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGp0WWfEadg&NR=1&feature=fvwp
Critical thinking is . . .
• Self-disciplined• Self-monitored• Self-corrective
thinking
Thinking Critically Means …
Examining different viewpoints
Learn to think from different perspectives
Young girl? or
Old woman?
Man playing horn? or
Woman’s silhouette?
A Native American face?
or An Eskimo’s back?
What/Who Doesn’t Belong? And Why?
whale, shark, zebracamera, photographer, pilotSigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Rick
PerryAristotle, Plato, Frank FairMonet, Renoir, Einstein Copland, Mozart, Bach De Castro, Muehsam, Harman
What Do They Have in Common?
Aristotle, Plato, Frank FairMilton Friedman, Robert Solow,
Carl MengerZimbardo, Bandura, MilgrimDoor-in the face, foot-in-the-door,
low-ballVera Wang, Sarah Burton, Carolina
Herrera
The CamelsAn Arab sheik tells his two sons to
race their camels to a distant city to see who will inherit his fortune. The one whose camel is slower will win. The brothers, after wandering aimlessly for days, ask a wise man for advice. After hearing the advice, they jump on the camels and race as fast as they can to the city. What does the wise man say?
The Wise Man Says…
Switch camels.
Train Wreck One train leaves from NYC heading
towards LA at 100 mph. Three hours later, a train leaves from LA heading towards NYC at 200 mph. Assume there’s exactly 2000 miles between LA and NYC. When they meet, which train is closer to NYC?
When they meet…
they’re both at the same spot, so they are both the same distance from NYC.
Going to St. Ives
As I was going to St. Ives I met a man with seven wives. Each wife had seven sacks. Each sack had seven cats. Each cat had seven kits. Kits, cats, sacks, and wives, how many were going to St. Ives?
Some months have 31 days; how many have 28?
How many outs are in an inning?
There are 3 apples and you take away 2. How many do you have?
Common Phrases
DECI SION
ANOTHER ONE
Common Word
A duck, a goose, a goat, and a horse all entered the barn at different times one day last week.1) A mammal entered the barn first.2) The duck entered before the goose.3) The goose entered ahead of the horse.
Who entered the barn first?
Common Phrases
CHIEDITOREF
T 2222
Word FunDetermine both one-word answers.
The floor of ship or boat,They walk on me at sea;Where there’s a C, make it an S,At school you sit on me.
What Economic Phrases?
advantage
demchangeand
History Terms?
ISM
Poetry Terms?coo
+ t +
+s r
Phrase
Fun Theory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbEKAwCoCKw&NR=1
DiscussHow might you use some of these
ideas in your classroom?
Could students use critical thinking in generating critical thinking activities to share with the class?
How Not to Be Stupid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9BMyaftZ1A
