i give my students a problem to solve on Pharmacology class and they have to use math and convert amounts from the apothecary system to the metric system, so it is working much better to do this exercise because they can understand how to calculate a medication dosage
In my Ed Psychology course students had to research a topic, write about the topic and then they have take that topic and decide how they will apply it in preschool or elementary setting.
Some of the topics they are working on are cooperative learning, expressive/receptive vocabulary, language development, physical development, and more. They will then share their activities with the class (high risk activity).
I think this my be too difficult a startimg activity. I might use this kind of activity on a more advanced lass,
In a psychology course under standing the steps of the scienrific process is very important. The hypothesis is a key point of understanding which leads to the next level of the process that must be resolved before we can move on successfully.
I teach math in a culinary college. My motto is "does it make sense?". I encourage students to look at every answer and ask themselves that question. Oftentimes a students gets a question wrong and tells me that they notice that the answer can't be right. I compliment that student because they just made a big leap in critical thinking and then I guide them to the correct solution.
Hi Regan,
Awesome! Peer teaching is great! Some students really have a natural knack for teaching, and it really brings out their competitive side. It is also like a competition going on, and most students really try their hardest. This type of assigment really promotes critical thinking.
Patricia Scales
I do something similar at the start of the term, I give each student a topic and they must present it in a form of their choice, but the goal is to get their fellow student to remember the topic…the students get very creative and throughout the remainder of the term most of the information is remember mainly by the student’s name whom presented and then they can remember what was learned.
Hi James,
This generation love to hang out, and you are being very creative with this type of group activity. How smart and creative on your part to produce fun for students, but at the same time, they are learning/retaining their information.
Patricia Scales
Hello Patricia,
I am currently teaching AutoCAD 1 and an advanced computer design class as well. I use a method of critical thinking that involves learned experience and observation. 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. This opens an entirely different avenue of critical thinking. I find that when I lecture and there is not any interaction with their peers thay do not retain as much and the critical thinking level is diminished, but when they relate and observe their peers they think of the experience as just hanging out with their friends. Little do they know they are actually learning and this is evident in their exam scores and the way they respond after the session.
Thank you,
Jimi
Hi Maurice,
Role playing is a great exercise to get students to utilize their critical thinking skills. I also love to use case studies, scenarios, mock learning, and peer teaching to get students to utilize their critical thinking skills.
Patricia Scales
In my Human Relations class when it comes down to critical thinking. I have my students role play the topic for a better outcome. When they see how other students in the class think it opens they're mind to a more deeper level and then quiet wasn't so quiet!
Hi NEAL,
Students need to know that crictical thinking will help them in all areas, professionally as well as personally.
Patricia Scales
I too like to have bugged car day as the students really enjoy trying out their new skills. whenever possiable i match the bugs with the skills they have just learned so they may see how to apply the tests and read the results. the only problem with groups is the student who watches and seems to understand but when it comes time for one on one testing the student is lost. i also like to weave questions of a day to day nature to show the students that improving your critical thinking skills may be a help to them in many parts of their lives not just diag at work.
Hi Michelle,
Awesome! I enjoyed reading this. I am sure your students take a lot from this activity, and they fully enjoy it. These are the types of scenarios that they are going to encounter in the real world. This is a great way to get students used to what to expect on the job. KUDOS!
Patricia Scales
Hi Wilfred,
This hypothetical exercise really relates to the real world, and students become really engaged when they are applying knowledge related to what they will be doing in the workplace.
Patricia Scales
In my electrical diag.course.I give my students a hypothetical,customer concrn with a vehicle,and have the students isolate the problem with diagrams only.
This is a critical thinking,and skill building activity.
We have a very cool practical exam in a Contemporary Cuisine class where we deal with special dietary restrictions. We have a variety of real client profiles with a myriad of health issues or life style concerns (like heart health, gluten or dairy free, vegetarian and so on). The students are asked to create a menu for that client and then produce it the following day for the client. We invite the client in to be part of the tasting panel, and then provide feedback to the students. This requires a LOT of pre-planning and is definately high risk-BUT the students get a BIG take-away. It becomes very real all that we have explored over the weeks. It takes the concept of a paper and pencil menu and makes it a very powerful learning tool. When a client craves cake and can't have gluten, they have to use critical thinking to arrive at how they can outsmart the recipe and make something delicious. Lactose intolerabt guest dying for cream of mushroom soup, vegetarian that misses BBQ and the list goes on. It is fun and very rewarding.
Hi Andrea,
Troubleshooting is important. You did great coach her along to figure out this problem. In the real world students have to know how to think critically in order to succeed.
Patricia Scales
Hi Ron,
This seems to be very methodical. Steps are a good way to test someone's critical thinking abilities.
Patricia Scales
Today a student came up to me with a recipe that she was excited to try. I took one look at the dessert recipe and immediately noticed that there was no sugar. I let her know that an important component was missing and asked her what it was. She began guessing. I told her that she was over analizing it and asked what it would taste like. At that point she realized that there was no sugar. I then asked her how it would effect the end result besides taste. She was able to answer correctly and figured out how to fix the recipe. She was quite proud of herself and realized that a few weeks ago she would not have had the knowledge to figure out the answers.
