I learned how I can use collborative and PBL into my teaching to engage my students and encourage critical thinking.
Many students need to develop critical thinking skills
Critical thinking is not something that many students learn in K-12. Students must have access to assignments that go beyond memorization.
Critical thinking is reflecting and evaluating the 'gray areas' of a concept as to potential possiblities for a problem or concept for the many 'correct' answers within the key concept. PBL is teaching the mind 'how to think' at a higher level while being open to the various perspectives of a concept
Now I understand why a number of students do not have critical thinking skills when they come to a post high school environment. Many don't have problem solving skills. I will have to incorporate more group projects with team building skills.
It's important to promote high-level skills such as critical learning. Provide the students with opportuntiy to problem solve and critical thinking. For example: Encourage students to find relationships between pieces of information, and ask open-ended questions. It is also important for instructors to plan synchronaous environment for real-time collaboration.
It seems tnat the students have much more responsibility to teach and learn from thier experiences. Providing those experiences is in oart the job of the facilitator.
I plan on utilizing collaborative, cooperative, and problem solving learning activites to encourage critical thinking. I want to provide opportunities to incorporate real world examples or problems and allow time for the students to reflect.
Collaborative learning and Problem-based Learning are good options to initiate Active Learning with students. These options also offer opportunities for real-world learning.
Active learning in the ELT program is the main aspect of instruction. Students are often given a problem and asked to design the solution or discuss how to determine the best method for solving the issue. The same with the CSS classes I teach.
Critical thinking and problem solving are transferrable skills that every employer and business desirers. Teaching these skills in an online environment is beneficial to both the student and the instructor.
Not all students will have the knowledge or prior experience of using critical thinking or collaborative learning but with the patience and understanding of an online instructor the knowlege and growth will begin.
Ciritcal thinking is the key to a strong future in difficult challenges to make these students thrive.
I've learned that through active learning techniques, students will learn and retain much more than through traditional lecture. Activities, such as cooperative/collaborative learning and problem based learning (PBL), are excellent ways to ensure the students practice reading, research, writing, presenting and especially critical thinking skills.
I really like the collaborative learning process.
Respectfully,
Kendrick Kim
kkim1@fullcoll.edu
Active learning is a great means of allowing a larger intelligance pool to work on a given problem and find a solution, rather than just the individual. This can promote brainstorming that could identify possible solutions that would have otherwise been over looked.
Critical thinking development via group-based learning (collaborative/cooperative) is important. While possibly a bit more challenging in the on-line environment it is very doable. 2020 has provided ample opportunities for group-based activities I plan to incorporate into this school year.
It is not only important for the student to develop critical thinking abilitys for the purpose of class but to develop this type of thinking to apply this to everyday life.
Critical thinking is imperative for students to learn as it will prepare them for work in the 21st century. Collaborative is a powerful tool to help students learn how to critically think.
I consistently promote critical thinking as what employers are looking for in a possible employee. It is skill learned and developed in the classroom either face 2 face or online.
