Having been an employer as well as an instructor, I cannot emphasize how important it is to provide a "friendly environment" for students and employees. A professional needs to focus on solving a problem, not necessarily on getting the right answer. The "right answer" may change over time as people continue to think critically. Our students need to know once they graduate we are not grading them anymore, they need to grade themselves.
Ernest,
You are doing a great service for your students when you slow them down. It is easy for students to speed through problem solving steps and not analyze each step nor see the value of the information learned from that step. By being slow and thinking in-depth the students will have a greater understanding of the critical thinking process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find having my students slow down and examine the quality of the content as wll as the credibility of the source. This creates more opportunity for probing questions and thoughtful answers. Small group problem solving helps the student to look beyond the face value of assertions and engage in questioning with greater confidence. Their course of study becomes more expansive and self-directed. They tend to return to class armed with questions and ready to participate.
Cynthia,
Thank you for these good points about how critical thinking is used in the medical field. Reflective and critical thinking is essential as possibilities are explored in relation to a patient's condition. The more skill that is developed the more valuable the student will be in his or her field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In my field of teaching, critical thinking is very valuable to comprehensive and successful patient treatment. Our students must learn the "basic" knowledge but by developing their critical thinking skills , they can learn to apply the knowledge to the overall treatment of patients. This can be a step by step process as they learn to assess, diagnose and then implement their knowledge in treating their patients. Of course the most helpful reinforcement of what they have learned is when the treatment is evaluated and analyzed for success. Learning from application and also learning from correcting mistakes are part of developing critical thinking skills also.
Luke,
This is a very comprehensive and supportive way to develop critical thinking skills. The more students can gain experience in the different areas you list the more comfortable they will be when they are out in the workplace.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Like most skills, there is a learning curve that must be dealt with. My suggestion would be to utilize your critical thinking skills in an environment where your conclusion/recommendation is going to be reviewed/evaluated for its accuracy and effectiveness. Ideally, this could be accomplished in a collaborative setting where the participants will offer constructive criticism. That isn't always possible, but it doesn't diminish the value. Admittedly, this technique may invite inappropriate criticism. But if we know ahead of time we will be defending our decision in front of an informed and potentially hostile audience, it will bring energy and intensity to the process. That energy can be sublimated into the individual's or team's preparation. Additionally, I would add there is value in being able to explain and defend your position/recommendation. The only way to benefit from experiences such as this is to take a deep breath and go for it.
Brant,
What are some of the publications that you find helpful?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Reading multiple publications about a particular topic.
Sharon,
Good strategy to follow. You field is not exact in that you are trouble shooting a situation based upon symptoms presented. This requires skill as a critical thinker and problem solver. Helping to expand their skill set in the area of critical thinking will help them once they are dealing directly with not only the animals but also the owners.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I encourage my students to critically think as I am in the veterinary field. Critical thinking is required as it may mean the difference between life and death of an animal.
I test and challenge my students to critically think on my quizzes and exams. The questions I write require them to think about the answers and not just regurgitate" an answer. I use a lot of qualifying words (only, never, always, etc) to make them think critically.
Tenisha,
Your comments reflect one of the rewards of teaching. You mention that you love it when your students start to think for themselves and raise questions that you yourself would raise in proposing a solution to the existing problem. This is one of my rewards as well. It is so much fun to see students mature in this area of their education.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In my class I help the students develop their critical thinking skills by starting off with simple questions. I then begin to probe and ask questions that build upon the initial simple question. From there the students than begin to ask themselves and their classmates even more questions. Questions that challenge their initial way of thinking. Questions that require more thought then the initial questions for which we started the discussion with. I love it when the ball starts rolling and my students start asking the questions that I myself would ask.
Mary,
This is a great way to get students familiar how research is done and how to review research in a way that lets them come to conclusions with a much higher degree of accuracy. Otherwise they will just depend on what is written whether it is accurate or not.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have my students critque relevant research articles. We discuss each part of the research process, from question to final summation. Then we break into groups and give group presentations.
Ghaleb,
The more information a person has the easier it is to propose a solution. Your approach is helping the students to gather information and then proposed solutions that are factual and well thought out.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students develop critical thinking as they learn to justify their reasons for a certain position on a story-specific issue. Also discussions, students generate many questions, help one another clarify questions, listen carefully to their peers, engage in discussion, and appreciate the opportunity to reflect on their own questions.
Elizabeth,
This type of analysis is a must for students to be able to do. This way they will be able to identify and select the most appropriate products and procedures for their patients.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Mabel,
You are using a real life perspective as you introduce your students to the critical thinking process. This is so important to their development. Keep up the good work. I know your students are benefiting greatly from this approach.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
There is a vast number of information on the web, students need to filter through and analyze whether the information comes from a valid source. In our scientific methods course, the students need to decipher whether a study done on a particular dental product is truly valid and does what it claims to do. They have to ask the following information such as; how was the study preformed? Who conducted the study? Was the sample size large enough? And so on.
