Hi Christopher,
Students feel more at ease when they learn that it is more than one way to solve a problem. This is an awesome way to teach critical thinking. Our students need as much practice with problem solving as they can get.
Patricia Scales
The students have to answer critcal thinking questions from there text book for every chapter. I would have them role play certain questions pertaing to the medical field while the whole class will help answer the question and use their input. I will always add to the question.
I teach in a Audio Technology program and implement critical thinking processes all the time. An example is using what is referred to as "large format consoles" in an audio environment. Students must use critical thinking to solve problems that will invariably arise, and sometimes there is more than one way to solve these types of problems. Students feel more confident in trying a critical thinking process when it is shown that by thinking out a problem from the beginning sometimes yields results.
Hi Harper,
I like how you make the students think. When students come up with the answer on their own the information really does stick more.
Patricia Scales
I supervise lab activities at an audio engineering school. When I am helping a student learn a new skill or concept, I often try to lead them to the answer rather than lecturing them about what they need to know. For example, I'll explain a possible real life situation in which they might need to use the skill and give them helpful hints as to what things to try. I always find that when a student reaches the solution on their own, they aren't coming back the next day with the same question--they're learning better.
Hi Adam,
Awesome! I love the idea of team/peer teaching. It is amazing how well some students can tech concepts to their peers. It certainly is great tactic for them to utilize their critical thinking.
Patricia Scales
Some activities we do in class is the actual processing of an audio file. Critical thinking is crucial as there is many steps one must follow to execute the end result.
Hi Vernise,
Great exercises to promote crtical thinking. I also like to do mock learning, scenarios, and simulations to promote critical thinking.
Patricia Scales
Hello Ms. Scales and forum mates.
One strategy I have applied this quarter, as well as quarters past, is team teaching.
This strategy causes students to take ownership of the skills they need to master. Each team covers a section of one or two (no more than two) learning objectives; then they present what they have learned in whatever method or medium they prefer. Their main goal is to teach classmates.
At times, this feels shaky if students have not prepared by reading or have no prior knowledge of concepts. All in all, it has been a good method namely because of the ownership factor. Secondly, deciding how their classmates might learn it best causes them to think critically about what they will do to present the material.
Hi Patricia,
Examples of of activities that I involve my students in the course that I am currently teaching include role play, student debates, fill-in worksheets and group discussion.
I find having the students actively involved increase their class participation and they have a better learning experience.
I asked my students different types of question which allow them to personally interact with me as their instructor and their peers.
Vernise Walker
Hi Nicole,
These are great questions to poise to students to help them behave professionally and land that professional position that they are seeking.
Patricia Scales
Hi Matthew,
Awesome! Students enjoy it when we make learning apply to the real world. What a great way to utilize resources to enhance your students learning experience.
Patricia Scales
I teach in a technology field, but it is one that involves lots of personal interaction with clients. In addition to discussion of hypothetical situations, I try to set up real world scenarios and I'll bring in a professional from the field to act as a client. I find this forces my students to think on their feet and find solutions in a timely manner. After the session is over, the guest client provides real-world feedback about how the class handled the situation.
I have an activity that I do with students up on the board. Its something different. I ask them to describe in one to two words a dental assistant. Then I tell them I have one in my head if they guess it they get a prize. It Team Player and usually one gets it. But this promotes critical thinking in the classroom.
what can you do as a dental assistant to make a patient feel comfortable?
What are some ways of behaving in order to secure a job off of externship?
What can you change for the better about yourself?
Hi Tim,
Students enjoy learning through using real-world scenarios. They really do come up with creative ways to deal with things.
Patricia Scales
Hi Lisa,
Students really do love role playing, and role playing is an effective way to learn.
Patricia Scales
In Environmental Science, I introduce the topic of 'Worldviews' with a short lecture and some discussion. I then present a real-world scenario where a decision has to be made to build a project (typically a coal electrical power plant) or not with real - in the scenario - impacts people and the environment. Groups of students are then tasked with making the decision and justifying that in a short presentation to the rest of the class. This leads to more discussions about values, pollution and resource use.
We do the same thing where I teach.
I teach Medical Assisting at a Career College and we create critical think scenarios the students have to go over and then show me what they would need to do by role playing and/or answering questions about the topic.
