Get Your Students Hired
Edward,
Yes, it is. These types of connections are important for students to see in relation to why they are enrolled in the course in the first place.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Identifying character and author motivations in English courses is a good way to strengthen critical thinking skills.
Robert,
Thank you for these comments. Your approach to analyzing situations and working toward solutions is practical and understandable. This is what is missing in so much of what we see in the work world today. Common sense and the ability to work through potential solutions make a person very valuable in his or her field. Our students need to understand this and try to expand their critical thinking skills while they are in school.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In the automotive field, vehicles have become quite complex during the last 10 years. Cars that used to have a single on-board microprocessor module (computer) will now have 80 modules or more, spread across 6 to 10 sub-networks. Students tend to be intimidated by the overall complexity. One of my favorite analogies is to compare automotive electrical/electronic diagnostics to two well-known TV game shows.
The first game show is "Wheel of Fortune", where the contestants throw individual alphabetical letters at the problem of identifying a phrase or sentence. If they are successful, perhaps they will win some money with their guesses. In automotive circles, this is known as "taking the shotgun approach" by throwing more and more parts at the car to see if that will repair the car's problems.
The other game show is "Jeopardy", which usually follows the first show. Here, the two fundamentals involving success are:
A. The ability to be knowledgeable over a variety of categories, and especially
B. Reverse-thinking. In Jeopardy, the answer is provided, and the contestant has to arrive at the question which would've given that answer.
Either method may be used to earn money, however only one of the two will build a confident customer database in the automotive field.
The first question I'll pose to students is then "What blows a fuse?" The answer in return is almost always "Higher amperage". Then, I'll rephrase the question with "What is the cause of a blown fuse"? Usually, students will repeat their same answer from prior. Then I'll explain: "Unless the electrical resistance in a circuit suddenly lessened, such as in a short circuit, the higher amperage which results would not have occurred, and knowing this, there would not have been a blown fuse".
The explanation continues: "This is an example of identifying the cause, rather than simply focusing on the symptoms associated with the cause. Since the basics of electrical diagnostics do not change between simple and complex circuits, it is important to learn how critical thinking is involved in accurately diagnosing the vehicle's problems".
Then all of the light bulbs light up (for both the vehicles and for the students).
Loretta,
These are mentally challenging as well as fun. They do help you to analyze and problem solve which can have real application to the chosen career area.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You can further develop your critical thinking skills by doing puzzles. There are Logic puzzles, crossword puzzles, etc. They all require a level of critical thinking.
Unidad (Ning),
This is so important for student development. The more they can refine their critical thinking skills the better prepared they are going to be in their careers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In the nursing classroom, with some direction from the instructor, students can be encouraged to formulate "application" questions, or "case scenarions" to be shared in class reflecting assimilation of new theories shared/learned.
Unidad (Ning),
Thank you for sharing this formula for student success. You are right on the mark about how this sequence will help with student success and motivation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
To piggy back on "friendly environment", I've noted that stress, related to students' expectations, requirements, deadlines hinder their progress towards exploration & development of their critical thinking abilities. Students should be ushered early on (or at the beginning), and be reminded regularly, to focus on the bigger picture. Doing so, will transform these "musts" into "eustress" (instead of "distress"), and usher them to be more self-directed despite given constraints, as the process unfold and become more relevant for them.
Richard,
I like your statement about a friendly environment because many students miss this part. They have access to an expert in their field for the time they are in a course. As they work through problem solving and critical thinking their instructor can serve as their mentor and coach. This is very low risk compared to when they are out in the work world so they need to use the expertise of the instructor and expand their critical thinking abilities.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Problem solving exercises as part of the curriclum, especially complex ones that require the students to apply and evaluate the lessons in a realistic situation, will help the students develop their critical thinking skills. Can build up the learning experience with smaller, easier exercises in the beginnning and then increasing the complexity (and ambiguity) of the problem over the duration of the course, goes a long way to helping the students develop their critical thinking skills in a "friendly environment."