This 2014 article by Biswas and Paczynska made my heart sing, because it spells out exactly how writing and critical thinking play a role in the workplace. I have been preaching this gospel in my own classroom for eons. The article uses examples from the State Department, but they are applicable in a variety ofContinue reading “What To Teach College Students about Writing Reports”
Author Archives: Nancy Burkhalter
Comprehensive Article on Critical Thinking
For those of you who would like a comprehensive overview of the critical thinking, including issues involving higher education, I recommend Martin Davies’ (2015) article, “A Model of Critical Thinking in Higher Education.”
Math + Critical Thinking
I subscribe to The Critical Thinking Consortium, or TC2 (www.tc2.ca). It’s a group of educators who create material and conduct trainings for teachers. Super site too. It offers very accessible materials for all levels, often with a Canadian focus, since it’s headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. The site is informative and jam packed with ideas forContinue reading “Math + Critical Thinking”
Opportunity to Join Critical Thinking Community–With a Caveat
The Foundation for Critical thinking has sent me a notice of their new fee-based membership to the Center for Critical Thinking Community Online (CriticalThinkingCommunity). It offers many perks, such as access to its library of books and videos, all produced by the Foundation. One can also receive news, a blog written by two senior fellowsContinue reading “Opportunity to Join Critical Thinking Community–With a Caveat”
Questions: Our Secret Weapon
Alison King, in her article “Designing the Instructional Process to Enhance Critical Thinking across the Curriculum,”* relates the story of physics Nobel Prize winner Isidor Rabi. When he returned from school, he said his mother would not ask what had he learned, but rather what good questions had he asked that day. He said itContinue reading “Questions: Our Secret Weapon”
Can You Spot Fake News?
Fake news is everywhere, it seems. Such chicanery succeeds because many of us don’t have tools to help us tell the difference. Peter Facione, in his article “Ten Ways To Spot Fake News,” outlines a Credibility Test, consisting of 10 yes/no questions that can signal a dubious source. I am abbreviating his ideas here, butContinue reading “Can You Spot Fake News?”
Asking ‘Why’ and ‘What If’
The New York Times’ Warren Berger suggests that critical thinking can get a boost if you ask the powerful questions “why” and “what if.” As questions proliferate, you are likely to get some good answers. Asking ‘why’ and ‘what if’.
Convincing Someone When Facts Are Not Enough
Michael Shermer tries to sort out what happens when people turn a deaf ear to the facts we know to be “true.” When Facts Fail.
Why Chinese students struggle with critical thinking in U.S. universities
When Facts Backfire
In the January issue of Scientific American, Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, wrote “When Facts Backfire.”
