Thank you, Dr. Meers. That is a really good idea about bringing former students in to talk about self discipline. I have never done that, and I am always looking for guest speakers!
Denise Griffin
Denise,
Well said. I talk about personal discipline a lot with my students but at times I wonder if it is sinking in. Personal discipline requires effort and many students don't want to invest the time and effort to acquire the skills required to have personal discipline. I bring in former students to talk about the need for self/personal discipline so my current students will see that this form of discipline is an integral part of their career growth and success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Personal discipline helps with critical thinking by forcing oneself to depend on Self. Even with ever increasing reliance on social ties through social media, those people are "out in space" and not at your side. You can't Google a question or go to Facebook when working with a patient, and often times cannot contact a co-worker or supervisor as they are dealing with their own patients. By having self-dependence, confidence increases when things DO go right, and the cycle continues. Even if things go wrong, at least the person has performed due diligence and this increases knowledge. With increased knowledge, new information can be applied to various other situations.
Brian,
This seems to be a common problem so we need to help them to slow down and analyze the problem as they seek solutions. The more real world cases you can share with them the better as this will get them to thinking about what they will face once they are out in the workplace and facing problems that they are being paid to fix.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have many students who try to rush through, looking for short cuts at every chance. I try to stress to them that they need to slow down and think of what is going on and how they are going to solve the issue at hand. Critical thinking is the very basis of what makes a good technician.
Ellen,
Thank you for these good points about the necessity for personal discipline. It is so true and so important. Students want to rush to solutions or at least rush to finding through a google search the answer without developing the skill and steps required of personal discipline.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think of personal discipline as the ability to be willing to struggle and not give up. If I fail at something, it is often easy to just walk away and forget about it. Tell myself there was some external reason that I was not successful. Discipline helps me understand my failures and keep trying.
This can help with critical thinking in that it is a process. You may brainstorm answers that you will reject later. You may come up with ideas and after talking to others, realize they are not feasible. Having discipline helps me continue on even when the answer is difficult.
In our labs we try to have students learn patience and attention to detail while working on solving the tasks at hand.This seems to help a little.
I try to also instill confidence in students by leading them to the correct answer.
Albert,
This is a very common problem in both school and the work place. We have all experienced it. We do need to hold the standards of our field and support our students as they strive to meet the set goals. If the students don't then they have to deal with the consequences of such a decision.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Personal discipline allows for a consistent plan of attack in solving problems. Quite often in solving mechanical problems, students ignore certain steps since manufacturing technology has advanced to a point where it is unlikely a certain component is faulty. However, if the fault is this component, the disciplined critical thinker will solve the problem in a timely fashion.
It's sad but I witness a lack of discipline every day. Very few students are performing at a critical level and will have difficulty when it comes to performing and holding a job. I have yet to figure out how they expect to succeed with so little effort put forth. If you ask them directly they just make excuses. I have to believe they are just overwhelmed from the task of "making it" in todays world.
Paul,
So true in terms of doing research and extending every effort to learn as much as is possible about a situation, problem or choice. This way as you mention buyer's remorse will be reduced and satisfaction enhanced as a result of knowing information was acquired and a selection made that fits the situation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe this is an important aspect of critical thinking. We need to take the time to make informed decisions and it is not just making employment decisions, but life decisions as well. Too often, I feel, that we make quick decisions based on emotions and what others may think, like buying a car, without finding out for ourselves is it the right time or right vehicle to buy. Then you end up with buyer’s remorse. This can also reflect on our education. When we purchase an education, hence go to college, we want it to benefit us in many aspects of our lives. I personally don't want buyer’s remorse about my education. Again, we need to make informed decisions and take the time to research and have the discipline to do so.
Kimberly,
This is a great activity that you are requiring of your students. They need to really think and then apply in order to successfully complete the assignment. By personalizing it you are helping the students to see how life experiences can be used to facilitate their learning and career growth.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
For anyone to have any type of success in critical thinking they have to have patience for the process. Our brains are so full of all of our life's experience making instantaneous perfect plans impossible. It is through trial and error and several ideas based on all of our experiences that give us the most value and success in any goal that we strive to achieve. By going with first idea that pops out of our head because it is the easiest and quickest for results, it may be enough to skate by, but with our students they have come to us to make a change in their life for the better through a new career. Most people don't realize how valuable past experiences can be when you can find a way to relate their life to there learning. I usually try to create an assignment where they pick a hobby that they love doing; apply a disease or disorder to themselves; with the conclusion on how they would overcome the situation or not. They have a hard time at first because they can't find an answer in the book and the right answer is based on their applied perspective. This shows them that their thoughts and ideas along with knowledge are very valuable to their future.
Ruthie,
96% of individuals that start a diet or exercise program fail within six weeks. The primary reason is the lack of self discipline and a clear outcome goal. This is not much different than that of what our students do when they fail to develop the self discipline it takes to be a successful student and then a successful worker. You are right on in terms of self discipline being the core success factor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Personal discipline gives you the ability to stop and think thereby allowing you to see the need for critical thinking. Personal discipline will hold yourself accountable for doing so and alert you when you should revisit your ideas.
Mitra,
Students need to have examples given to them so they can get the thought process going in relation to becoming problem solvers. They need to show alternatives and then select one choice to solve the problem and move forward with their work.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I give examples to show how by using methodical/ disciplined ways of approaching something , better results are achieved.
