Critical Thinking Assignment
What would be your first plan of action in making a critical thinking assignment?
Since an essential element of critical thinking is using information from multiple sources, a good plan of action would be to ensure that a critical thinking assignment requires a synthesis of multiple sources. A blog with comments from multiple students can be used to incorporate this orientation.
Suzanne
My first step would be to think carefully about the "ends" of the assignment. What do I want learners to accomplish? What will they be better able to do as a result of the assignment? What are the best resources to accomplish these aims? Hopefully I haven't missed the intent of the question here.
I think I would take time to look around to be sure that I know what I want my students to do and what I am asking of them. This needs to be clear. If it is not clear to me, it will not be clear to them. After all, in terms of critical thinking, the basic level of acquisition of knowledge requires that students are able to identify what is being said: the topic, the issue, the thesis, and the main points.
I believe it is essential to plan critical thinking assignments with the end result in mind. So, creating the rubric would be my first plan of action.
Jerry,
Students really want something like a checklist to help them navigate how to finish assignments. Yes, they want to know how they will be graded but also how to accomplish it. I am not seeing much trial and error going on, they want to know exactly what they need to do which defeats the purpose many times of working through an assignment.
Renee Shaffer
Often these types of problems aren't easy to find. Once found, the instructor can develop rubrics, assessments, discussion questions, etc.
What do you see as the main value of rubrics?
jv
A few considerations would involve creating an assignment in line with the class objectives. As part of this, one goal would be for students to see the relationship between the assignments and the class objectives. I would also ask students to review some of the main objectives for the first assignment and create at least one question about geared towards how they will meet the class assignment's objectives and goals. A main tool here would be using open-ended questions.
Jerry Voltura
Setting the problem as a exploration connected to real issues that relate to their field of study
At the start of each week's class--using a 5 week schedule--I make sure to post 2 announcements for the class; one explains in detail what the various parts of that week's course work involves and how it is to be assessed.
The 2nd post is a more modified post that always includes a graphic/image/cartoon/etc as an *attention grabber* then offers suggestions for the students to work their way through the assigned pieces; i.e., *follow the bread crumb trail*.
Christopher,
Yes, it is becoming more evident lately that our students really don't have any idea what is involved in critical thinking. I even had a parent say not too long ago, that she didn't need her daughter to know how to critically think as she already had her job lined up for her after she graduated. I was speechless.
Renee Shaffer
The most important thing is to prepare them up front so each student fully understands the expectations for the critical thinking assignments and that it not just simple read and do a paper type course. Once they fully understand the expectations, it is matter of management, coordination, motivation and assessments
Determining what learning objective the assignment will encompass. I would then assess the relevance of the assignment/content to the students participating in the interaction.
Jeanette,
Great. I also find it helpful to have the students figure out which steps need to start first. This can be useful in any academic field and it can be eye-opening for instructors and students alike!
Renee Shaffer
My first plan of actin towards a critical thinking assignment would be to divide the class into groups. Each group would be responsible for research a specific topic. Such as what are the steps required for a facility to become ICD10CM/PCS implementation ready.
Although this is a broad question there are many steps required.
Vivian ,
Yes, it is a great idea to know who your students are and what their strengths and weaknesses are. Great idea.
Renee Shaffer
LaShanta ,
By the looks of all this, you must be a terrific instructor. Keep up the good work enhancing the learning of your students.
Renee Shaffer
While it is important to be comfortable with your teaching strategy, it is also necessary to consider potential advantages in terms of the quality of student learning. I have learned that student engagement often results in a deeper understanding of the course concepts.
Learning is enhanced when students are actively “doing something†to learn rather than passively listening to the teacher.
I would post questions for the students to answer that will allow them to think freely and with continuous interaction with them help them to express there critical thinking skills.
LS
My first plan of action would be getting to know my students’ strengths and weaknesses regarding subject matter before making a critical thinking assignment. I would then tailor an open ended question assignment so that students would be able to answer regardless of strength or weakness of subject matter. I would then list the do’s and don’ts when responding to the assignment so that students are forced to think about how to respond rather than answering yes/no or I agree/disagree.
I really enjoy scenario-based projects/assignments. I would make sure that the students see the relevance of the assignment to the course objectives and tie that in my real-life professional experience. A favorite type of scenario based critical thinking project of mine involves having students assume various roles within a team and creating a scenario that deals with resource allocation. I find that students learn a great deal and can appreciate the complex decisions that must be made by organizational leaders and therefore, are more likely to develop a more objective view on the process.
