melissa ,
Great! What kinds of activities do you encourage your students to participate in that increase critical thinking?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Critical thinking is very important I encourage my students all the time to do the critical thinking excersises in the book its a good group project
Victoria,
Great! So, as students understand their own learning process, they will continue to learn successfully...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
The implications of new skills development redirects focus away from the outcome and more towards the process of learning. It allows the student to be assessed in many different areas and takes into consideration whether the student has actually learned something.
I think this is really important. Each of our students come into our classroom at different levels and learning different ways. When we identify one thing the student must take away from the class, we overlook the important aspect of learning. One student may not take away what another student may have from the course but new skills were developed and learning new information did occur; isn't that the important thing?
I think learning assessment should be redefined to take the above into consideration.
a more broader range of student learning. more of an understanding to the class and lesson.
The implications of new skills development for learning assessment include finding ways for students to demonstrate their learning, using technology in the examinations, and including a standard final exam
Even though I try to encourage critical thinking, rote learning is still important. I teach accounting and continually tell my students that textbook methods are only one way of recording financial data. There are choices. I teach many of those choices.
Having said this, correct critical thinking can not begin until rote, basic information is learned and understood. It is important to understand that there are different ways of doing things, but it is also important to stress that accuracy is a must. Errors are not acceptable even if the methodology to get to the incorrect answer deserves some credit.
Dana,
Good points and question. Instructors must think through the learning process rather than simply filling a role. How does that translate to teaching?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
So the approach is much more integrated and technology-rich, Tim. In all it will be an holistic experience for the students so long as the teaching methods have also changed for the instructor. What specifically do you think would have to change from the more conventional methods to these you describe?
So would you say that this is a challenge for teachers, Stephanie? How can teachers better prepare the kind of assessments required?
New skills require learning assessments that can effectively and accurately gauge what a student is learning. Learning assessments should be tailored to the skill being taught.
For example, observing and recording a patient's response to an injection.
Additional time for planning and designing instruction is absolutely the norm when using new technology to mediate or deliver instruction. How exactly do you think students might feel inadequately prepared for tests in using new technology, Larry?
In my opinion it really creates a challenge for the instructor in time management. First, some instructors may have to learn the technology in order to be able to incorporate the new skills. That said, means adding time to lesson plan and course development which amy take away from quality of instruction.
Additionally, a lot of hiring demands of employers require certifcations, licensing, or registrations as a condition of employment. A lot of those tests measure information and content. Students may feel they have not been adequately prepared for those tests.
Thomas, how do you raise this kind of critical thinking about technology with your students? What is their response to this kind of questioning?
One of the interesting things I have seen is that some of the things we grew up with is going out the window. Sometimes technology can hurt us. Many of todays students cannot read time on a convential clock. Minute hand? What is that? A digital timepiece can't be mistaken. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. Only until our generation is no longer around and there is no further need to see that type of timepiece. There are other areas where it can possibly hurt us though. Spelling, today we have spell check. Math, everyone uses calculators. Interaction with others, we have Facebook. Technology must be regulated so that we don't loose our basic human characteristics. We still must be able to work with others.
Hi James,
Yes, I agree with your observations of the benefits of focusing on the learning process. In your own teaching, how can you ensure your focus remains on process over content?
It is pretty clear that placing emphasis on the process and less dependant on the "required" results will require the instructor to be much more engaged in the evaluation process. The new tools of technology make it much easier to monitor the process than ever before and alloows the instructor to encourage the less innovative students to become more creaqtive in their thinking and application of solutions.
Indeed, the ease of textbook use can counter the actual learning process that should be taking place. Interestingly, teachers must remain critically engaged themselves with the course content if they want students to develop critical approaches to their own learning.
Because its the way most teachers have been taught. We are products sometimes of our own schooling. Also the textbook manufacturers make it so easy... they give us those neat multiple choice tests right on the disks.
-Chris
