Uncategorized – Page 2 – Critical Thinking Now!

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.”

Fake Academic Journals? I’m shocked!

Critical Thinking Now: Practical Teaching Methods for Classrooms around the World Today’s curricula can (and should) incorporate critical thinking methods because they are the means by which people best understand, learn, and retain higher level concepts. Contrary to what many professional trainers assume, teaching critical thinking is not achieved by shoveling facts at an audienceContinue reading “My book is out!”

Think they understand? Ask ’em.

` Quizzes and tests are time-honored methods of finding out about student learning beyond what you think they know. But there is a quicker, informal, non-graded way to do that by asking them. Although it could be done every class session, I do it after I teach a certain skill and always at midtermContinue reading “Think they understand? Ask ’em.”

Foundation for Critical Thinking Offers Certification in Paul-Elder Method

The Foundation for Critical Thinking is offering certification in its method for understanding and teaching critical thinking. I’ve attended and presented at several of its conferences and think it’s really necessary to see how the method in action to really understand how to do it. It’s billed as an approach to reason through a problem or issue,Continue reading “Foundation for Critical Thinking Offers Certification in Paul-Elder Method”

Site Sightings

For all my research and reading and writing about critical thinking, I was surprised I hadn’t heard about the Association for Informal Logic and Critical Thinking (AILACT). It works in conjunction with the American Psychological Association and at times the Canadian Philosophical Association. It’s a very low-key group but recently put out a plan toContinue reading “Site Sightings”

Again with the MOOCs!

Froma Harrop wrote an article in her syndicated column about how Massive Open Online Courses are the answer to the high cost of higher education (http://www.seattletimes.com/author/froma-harrop/ – Apr 18, 2016, Higher education needs major disruption ). Here is my comment. While I cannot argue that pay for university administrators is way out of kilter, IContinue reading “Again with the MOOCs!”

Critical Thinking and Active Learning–A Happy Marriage!

I said to a colleague the other day that teachers should know more about active learning since that approach is integral to teaching critical thinking. He just looked at me, incredulous that this information would be news to any teacher. Well, just click on Stanford Physicist Embarks On Mission To Improve Undergraduate Teaching (All ThingsContinue reading “Critical Thinking and Active Learning–A Happy Marriage!”