Critical Thinking
I find that this is very hard for students to master. I deal with clinical students more than any other type of student. It is very hard to get them to think outside of the textbook. I try and give examples to students to make them think about the outcome if they treated every patient as a textbook patient. I do find that they improve their critical thinking skills throughout their clinical experience but I feel that it takes them too long to arrive there. I would love to come up with some ways to improve their critical thinking skills much sooner in their clinical rotations.
I put students into groups so we can work on a problem that has a known conclusion. I will interrupt the exercise about a third of the way through the exercise and throw out a new variable that will change the answer to the problem we are working on. I am then forced to do the problem as well and this gives me an opportunity to start a brainstorming session. After the exercise I will talk about how understanding outlines and procedures is important but in the real world unexpected problems may arise.
Hi Arthur,
Great exercise to promote critical thinking. I like to use scenarios to help generate critical thinking.
Patricia Scales
I teach electrical theory and residential wiring methods. During my class is a chapter on critical thinking skills and we use different examples to help the students implement the best way to solve a problem using critical thinking guidelines. This method helps them to realize and implement a proper course of action to any critical situation.
Hi Deronde,
Role reversal is a good way to promote critical thinking. This gives the students something to really think about.
Patricia Scales
Ask the students if you were the client that came in and wanted this service what would you want the student to do to you. Let them do a role reversal
Hi Pixie,
You may want to talk to your DOE so that you all can establish in your curriculum in earlier classes before clinicals scenario-based learning. Scenarios really help students with their critical thinking.
Patricia Scales
