Critical Thinking success story : )
I am an instructor at a trade vocational college and have found immense benefit of employing the critical thinking style of question format in lectures.
The students become more engaged in the lecture and are better prepared to process logical outcomes of why the material being covered is important to them and their clients benefit wise.
Richard,
Thank you for these comments about critical and reflective thinking. I support your comments as they reflect on some of the challenges career/vocational colleges face in terms of promoting the educational opportunities that they offer. The majority of graduates from career colleges will be using their problem solving skills to be successful in their careers because they will be in service industries, be they health, technical sciences, or autos.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sometimes education sees "vocational colleges" as the only place where "practical training" (critical thinking)is necessary. As a graduate of a four year degree university, but now a program director at a two-year vocational degree college, I have been exposed to to this "traditional" bias. Nothing could be further from the truth!
We teach strong critical thinking methods and techniques at my two-year college integrating them with very a challenging academic curriculum. Also, in my personal effort to be successful in my responsibility as a program director,I find myself relying more on those areas of my "four-year academic degree" that best prepared me for sound decision making, "common sense" reasoning, and best use of my emotional intelligence.
All educators need to avoid the stereotypes that often present with "vocational colleges", and realize that a balance between "pure" academics and practical intelligence is the best way to serve all our students, as we prepare them for both work and life challenges.
Debra,
I think this is a great way to develop critical thinking skills plus have a little fun in the process. Once they get the process of critical thinking down they will be able to apply it to their other classes as well as their personal lives.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree and teach at a similar school. I try to offer one critical-thinking exercise per week to keep my students thinking. To them, it's fun and "off topic" but in reality it is a brain workout.
Kodee,
Students really like to make applications of the content being shared. By you giving them different scenarios and problem situations you are helping them to see the relevancy of the content via the applications. This will help them to get an idea of what they are going to face out in the work world upon graduation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also feel practice makes perfect in this case. I try to include scenarios that require the critical thinking process in my students daily lab requirements.
Suzie,
The more opportunities for students to acquire skills as critical thinkers and problem solvers the more value they will have in the work place. The more case studies they work through the more refined they will be when facing career related problem solving situations.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
