Samantha,
This seems to be missing in some many of our students. We need to help them see the value of self discipline and how it will impact their lives. With our instant society they learn to jump on a personal device and due a search but they do not know how to think through and analyze what they are reading. The more we can help them to do this the better prepared they will be in the workplace.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Personal discipline helps with critical thinking because if one does not have discipline they tend to look for the easy way out. Discipline results in a work ethic that encourages the person to analyze all the information they have to reach a decision by looking at all of the possible outcomes. Disciplined students focus on learning the information and remembering it, rather than just finding a way to pass the test they are about to take.
In my field discipline is critical, not only because everything has to be done in order and discipline but also the lack of discipline could result in dangerous situations.
Larry,
Discipline is the result of time and effort and many students today do not want to invest in themselves and their future and develop self discipline. You make a very good point and one that needs to be shared repeatedly with students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jay,
It is the essence of success no matter what we undertake. Students need to see this in their lives. They will not without discipline be able to excel in their careers and discipline takes effort. They need to be willing to invest in themselves and their future.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Discipline on the part of the student is what allows them to focus on the course material. This discipline is a learned behavior that will easily translate into the workplace, giving them skills that will lead to career success.
Discipline is essential in performing tasks more accurately and efficiently.
Lisa,
Your analysis is right on and something I face every time I step into my classroom. They do not seem to understand nor value self discipline, structure and hard work as ways to acquire a quality education. I strive to instill this in them but I have to say it is a tough and up hill battle.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Personal discipline can help with critical thinking several ways.
First: students are too quick to "google" something. Stroking a few keys is easier than working through a problem using analytical skills. This is the first way that discipline in critical thinking is crucial.
Second: Students tell me all the time, "I hate English. I am not going to be a writer, so what do I have to do in order to pass this class?" There is a common thread of students settling for mediocracy and lacking internal motivation to be successful in all content areas. Students do not fully appreciate a formal education today. It is just the next step they think that they are supposed to take after college. This is another way that discipline in critical thinking is crucial.
Lisa McGoldrick
English Instructor
I agree Wayne. The younger generation really struggles with this concept. They are quick to make decisions without really looking at the whole problem.
Andy,
Your graduates will be problem solvers throughout their careers so they need to develop a strong foundation in critical analysis and thinking. The better they are at it the more successful they are going to be in their careers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Critical thinking is required in my industry. As an automotive instructor, we have to teach students to take in information from sensors and senses and analize it to diagnose and repair cars.
Aisling,
If we can do what you have outlined in your comments then we will have done a great service for our students. They will be able to leave school knowing that they have the knowledge and expertise to work through different situations and come up with solutions. This is a form of empowerment that students need as a take away.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Wayne,
From my perspective your comment is right on. I believe as you do in terms of effective problem solving being able to look a a wide range of options and then select the one that best fits the situation and resources available. Thanks for making this good point and sharing this perspective.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
We can help to empower our students to take control over their choices and accept responsibility for them. We can help them to understand how their choices influences other lives as well as their own. We can help our students to judge their own thoughts and positively learn from them and to take the time to look at all options and to then make that decision based on all available information.
We always hear the term “thinking outside the box†but isn’t that just an example of using a disciplined approach to the thought process? To me disciplined thought means taking the time to look at all options then make a decision based on all available information.
David,
This is where self discipline comes in and for many students the gain from this effort is not worth the investment of their time and effort. Once they see the value of self discipline they start to realize that they in fact can be successful problem solvers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In order for critical thinking to work a person must be willing to commit time and effort to the process. Without the "willingness to succeed" critical thinking succumbs to taking shortcuts or letting others do the work.
Wayne,
A very important point. We need secure enough background information and consider enough alternative approaches in order to select an option that will help us to solve the problem that is being presented. This is where students need to put forth some personal effort and acquire self discipline if they are to be successful problem solvers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Seth,
So true and such an important point to make. Many of the students I have today have a sense of entitlement so they don't feel they have to invest in developing self discipline and expertise in the area of problem solving or critical thinking. The more experience we can get them in the area of critical thinking the more they realize that it does take effort to be a critical thinker.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
