Critical thinking presentation

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Nurturing Critically Thoughtful LearnersNurturing Critically Thoughtful Learners

Garfield Gini-NewmanLecturer, Department of Curriculum,

Teaching and Learning,OISE

ggininewman@oise.utoronto.ca

Garfield Gini-NewmanLecturer, Department of Curriculum,

Teaching and Learning,OISE

ggininewman@oise.utoronto.ca

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“Coverage is the enemy of understanding”-Howard Gardner, educational psychologist,

Harvard University

What might Gardner mean?1. If we try to cover too much material in a short time, students will be confused and unlikely to understand the content.2. Presenting ideas as information to be retained by students does not foster genuine mastery of the subject matter.3. Unless our presentation of content is made interesting to students they will not be receptive to the ideas.

3. Interpret the passage.

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TorontoToronto--Richmond Hill Stage Coach c.1890Richmond Hill Stage Coach c.1890

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Think of a ThinkerThink of a Thinker

When you think of someone you consider an effective critical thinker, what attributes do you attach to that individual?

When you think of someone you consider an effective critical thinker, what attributes do you attach to that individual?

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So, what is critical thinking?So, what is critical thinking?A complex activity, not a set of generic skills,Concerned with judging or assessing what is

reasonable or sensible in a situation,Focuses on quality of reasoning,Depends on the possession of relevant

knowledgeCan be done in endless contexts and is required

whenever the situation is problematic Is effortful but not necessarily negative

A complex activity, not a set of generic skills,Concerned with judging or assessing what is

reasonable or sensible in a situation,Focuses on quality of reasoning,Depends on the possession of relevant

knowledgeCan be done in endless contexts and is required

whenever the situation is problematic Is effortful but not necessarily negative

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When is someone thinking critically?When is someone thinking critically?

A person is thinking critically only if she is attempting to assess or judge the merits of possible options in light of relevant factors or criteria.

Critical thinking is criterial thinking— thinking in the face of criteria.

A person is thinking critically only if she is attempting to assess or judge the merits of possible options in light of relevant factors or criteria.

Critical thinking is criterial thinking— thinking in the face of criteria.

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Comparing teaching methodsComparing teaching methods In a critical thinking In a critical thinking

approach . . .approach . . .

students figure out students figure out aareasonable answer reasonable answer

we help them develop the we help them develop the tools to do this tools to do this successfullysuccessfully

In a In a ““traditionaltraditional””approach . . . .approach . . . .

we teach we teach thethe answer answer

students try to remember it students try to remember it

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TC2 Model of Critical Thinking

Community of Thinkers

Critical Challenges

Teach and Assess the

IntellectualTools

Background Knowledge

Criteria for Judgment

Critical Thinking Vocabulary

Thinking Strategies Habits of Mind

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Compare the health of two environments.

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What are some advantages and disadvantages of

electron microscopes?

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Which movie, Star Trek Generations or Outbreak is a

better science movie?

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Compare and contrast the functions of cilium and

flagellum.

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Why is cell differentiation critical to the formation of

tissues?

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Background Knowledgerequisite knowledge of the subject required for thoughtful reflection or consideration

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Criteria for Judgmentthe considerations or grounds for deciding which of the alternatives is most sensible or plausible

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Critical Thinking Vocabularythe range of concepts and distinctions that are helpful when thinking critically

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Thinking Strategiesthe repertoire or organizers, guidelines, models and strategies useful when thinking through a problem

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Habits of mindthe values, attitudes and dispositions of a careful and conscientious thinker

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Designing Critical ChallengesDesigning Critical Challenges Critical challenges may take one of

the following six forms: Critique the piece Judge the better or best Rework the piece Decode the puzzle Design to specs Perform to specs

Critical challenges may take one of the following six forms:

Critique the piece Judge the better or best Rework the piece Decode the puzzle Design to specs Perform to specs

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Where does truth lie?Sandy Danny

Where does truth lie?Sandy Danny

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QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

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Where does truth lie?Sandy Danny

Where does truth lie?Sandy Danny

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Can you help out Lou Costello?

A. Uncover the conceptual error in Lou’s mathematical thinking

B. Design a learning activity that would help Lou in understanding this conceptual error by providing an alternative solution to the math problem being discussed.

• What kinds of prompts are these two • critical challenges?

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Is Canadian diversity the result of or inspite of government intentions?

Create a Want Ad profiling the ideal immigrant sought by the Canadian governmas reflected in the 1904 cartoon All Together Now.36

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Which is the most powerful image of the Underground Railroad?38

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Which is the most powerful image of the Underground Railroad?* informative * provocative * evocative39

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Dr. Greg House?Dr. Greg House?

Mady-Eye Moody orMady-Eye Moody or

Who is more effective at nurturing a community of thinkers?

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Critique the Piece

Students assess the merits and shortcomings of a designated figure, product or performance.

Should ice-cream be part of a family’s diet?

Write 3 powerful questions.Write 3 powerful questions.

Does this illustration effectively represent the situation?

Does this illustration effectively represent the situation?

Which question is not an example of critique the piece?

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Judge the Better or Best

Students judge from among two or more options which one(s) best meet(s) the identified criteria

Are our questions powerful?

Which scientific theory explaining the dinosaur’s disappearance is most plausible?

Which scientific theory explaining the dinosaur’s disappearance is most plausible?

Which illustration bestrepresents the situation?Which illustration bestrepresents the situation?

Which question is not an example of judge the better or best?

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Rework the Piece

Students transform a product or performance in light of additional information or an assigned focus, perspective, genre etc.

Which is the best ending for the story?

Rewrite the story (draw an illustration) from the viewpoint of the minor character.

Rewrite the story (draw an illustration) from the viewpoint of the minor character.

Create a plausible ending for the story.Create a plausible ending for the story.

Which question is not an example of rework the piece?

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Decode the Puzzle

Students suggest and justify a proposed solution, explanation or interpretation to a confusing or enigmatic situation.

What would be an appropriate intervention in this situation?

What is the dominant perspective in this picture/caption?

What is the dominant perspective in this picture/caption?

Create a powerful headline.Create a powerful headline.

Which question is not an example of decode the puzzle?

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Design to Specs

Students develop a product that meets a given set of criteria/conditions.

Design the ideal habitat for this animal.

Write a fair-minded caption for this picture. Write a fair-minded caption for this picture.

What is the best solution to this problem.

What is the best solution to this problem.

Which question is not an example of design to specs?

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Perform to Specs

Students perform or undertake a course of action that meets a given set of criteria.

Design and implement a plan to reduce garbage in our school.

What is the most powerful scene in the story?

What is the most powerful scene in the story?

Which question is not an example of perform to specs?

Create a skit that illustrates an appropriate response/intervention to bullying.

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What type of challenge?

1. Which of the proposed approaches to estimation will produce the best result?2. Develop and implement a personal exercise plan to

improve your fitness level.

3. Write a letter to your grandmother and a letter to your friend telling about your recent vacation.

4. Interpret the hidden or non-obvious message theartists may be trying to convey.

5. Create a plan to reduce the amount of household waste your family produces.

Organize these challenges according to the 6 prompts.

Create a challenge for the prompt that is not represented.

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