Hi Sean,
Questions can certainly get students thinking in a very critical and analytical way.
Patricia Scales
Hi Timothy,
Awesome! I like using cased studies and mock learning to test their critical thinking abilities.
Patricia Scales
Hi Roy,
When fun is involved with learning students are really interested in the course. Let's do our due diligence to make learning fun.
Patricia Scales
I also use critical thinking quizzes to test the level of perception the class has on said topic
I pull the two classes together and mix the students up and make groups of the more advanced students and the newer students. I have found that by the use of observation and group discussion I can open their minds to a greater level by having them discuss with the other advanced students.
I will often create "concerns" on my training aids (automobiles) and I ensure that these concerns can be fluent with particular parts of the classroom lectures. Many of the concerns (or "bugs") can be related to a variety of things that were discussed in lecture. It's up to the students to perform the "diagnosis" based on what they've learned. I will move the student groups around to the different "stations" (as there are a wide variety of concerns/bugs) and this affords them the opportunities to see the variety of the things we've discussed in the classroom.
I use case studies to help my students with critical thinking. I share research information with them stating that companies are not only looking for people with high grade point averages, they want thinkers and people who can solve problems because that's the reason companies hire them.
I have students work on bugged engines and ask them to write the procedures they would use to resolve the issue. they work in teams of 3-4 people. after they have decided what procedures they will follow we discuss them together and I like to lead them with questions as to why they would choose this step and what are their expectations. once we have discussed this they then go to the bugged engine and perform the trouble shooting
I recently finished teaching a course in non-sterile pharmacy compounding. The course involved may opportunities for critical thinking during the lab process because they were not always given a clear formula sheet. They had to be able to determine what tools to use and what methods they had learned would work best for the given situation. They had to be able to apply procedures, math skills, and past knowledge to work through the lab exercises. They were also able to learn from their mistakes and determine or analyze what would work better next time, rather than just knowing it did not work.
I give a student volunteer a form of "toxic teammate" and they are to act out those behaviors and the rest of the class has to determine what kind of teammate is being demonstrated.
Sometimes this takes incentive to get volunteer "actors" but in the end, I get a positive reaction.
Some critical thinking excercises that I may use in a class start out with questions. I will cover the content of the course and ask the learners to analze how this course fits into there respective program structure or carreer path.
My complements to this program layout, more active learning and easier to follow, plus it was fun learning. In automotive repair you must think the problem through, what caused the failure. I like to present a failed part and discuse all the posibilities, then prove it. Just the facts.
Hi Joseph,
What a great methodical approach to generate critical thinking. Students tend to have better thoughts when the approach is more systematic.
Patricia Scales
I love instructing baking and pastry fundamentals to culinary students. First, to establish the importance of formula constrution and comprehension, demonstrate the technique and then have students apply his or her knowledge of the subject, but not until the next day. This sets the precident of analyzing the formula and visualizing the demonstration. Then develop a "game plan" for the proper execution of the formula in a kitchen/lab environment.
Hi Elizabeth,
You may want to have the students turn the steps into questions and put the answers on flashcards. There is just something about flashcard that really helps students to remember their information.
Patricia Scales
Hi Alejandro,
Calculating medication dosage is a must in Pharmacology. Students must know how to utilize both systems.
Patricia Scales
Hi Angie,
This is a great exercise to generate critical thinking from students. Very informative and lots of critical thinking will have to be utilized.
Patricia Scales
Hi Shawn,
Methodical thinking has to be promoted by us so that students better understand how to think critically. Students can process information better when it is on a step-by-step basis.
Patricia Scales
Hi Hanna,
Love it! Great question to generate critical thinking. Sometimes you know something is wrong, but you simply do not know how to go about getting it right. It does take guidance when one is learning.
Patricia Scales
I have a hard time getting the students to remember the order of steps when they are in production. I have written the steps on the board, have them copy it down, say it, and they watch me do it too. When they get to the classroom for lab they struggle. Im working on visuals that they can work with by taking the words and putting them in the right spot. Then all of them can practice in a classroom setting and lab setting.
