How to improve your Critical Thinking skills: Interview with Dr. Gerald Nosich – Life Lessons In this article I interview an expert on Critical Thinking, Dr. Gerald Nosich from the Foundation for Critical Thinking, who has been teaching Critical Thinking since 1977 to find out how we can improve our Critical Thinking skills. In this article you will learn: Let’s start at the beginning… Michael: What is Critical thinking? Dr. One it’s reflective. So if I’m making a decision I can ask myself : “What assumptions am I making about this?” Or I can ask myself about the implications: “Well, if I make this decision, what’s likely to happen?” “And if I make this other decision, what’s likely to happen?” Notice I’m not just thinking about the decision I have to make, but I’m also reflecting on how I’m going about making the decision, that is I’m reflecting on my thinking about the decision. Now reflectiveness is a major part of critical thinking, but reflective all by itself does not make something “critical thinking”. Dr. “What assumptions am I making about how my child is doing in school?” Dr.
Free Critical Thinking Worksheets Critical Thinking Worksheets Critical thinking is more than just a simple thought process. It involves thinking on a much deeper underlying level rather than just at the surface. There is so much information available to us in this world that we don't know what is true and what is not. That's why it's important for students to analyze, think effectively, and understand that not everything is black and white. Brain Teasers- A great way to stimulate thinking. Writing a Critique | IOE Writing Centre A critique (or critical review) is not to be mistaken for a literature review. A 'critical review', or 'critique', is a complete type of text (or genre), discussing one particular article or book in detail. In some instances, you may be asked to write a critique of two or three articles (e.g. a comparative critical review). In contrast, a 'literature review', which also needs to be 'critical', is a part of a larger type of text, such as a chapter of your dissertation. Most importantly: Read your article / book as many times as possible, as this will make the critical review much easier. Contents 1. Read and Take Notes To improve your reading confidence and efficiency, visit our pages on reading. Further reading: Read Confidently After you are familiar with the text, make notes on some of the following questions. What kind of article is it (for example does it present data or does it present purely theoretical arguments)? ^ Back to top Organising your writing Summary Why is this topic important?
Using Essential Questions to Promote Critical Thinking January 12, 2015 By: Julie Schrock, PhD and Steven Benko, PhD in Instructional Design Could your students identify the most important concepts in your discipline? Traditional ways of teaching and the customary use of textbooks can hinder the development of critical thinking and meaningful learning. Fundamental concepts Nosich (2005) defines a fundamental concept as one that grounds the other concepts. Essential questions Another way to facilitate critical thinking and meaningful learning is to help your students use fundamental and powerful concepts to reason through essential questions of a course. Cause genuine and relevant inquiry into the big ideas of the core content. In educational psychology, two essential questions are how do students learn and how can I teach to support student learning? If students memorize concepts but cannot think critically using those concepts, then the concepts are meaningless to the student and will soon be forgotten. References: Nosich, G.
Style Journal Article Reporting Standards (APA Style JARS) We have published a revised version of our Privacy Statement. Please read these updated terms and take some time to understand them. Learn more Got it skip to main content Highlights Supplemental Resource on the Ethic of Transparency in JARS APA Style JARS Supplemental Glossary Guidelines Quantitative Research Use JARS–Quant when you collect your study data in numerical form or report them through statistical analyses. Qualitative Research Use JARS–Qual when you collect your study data in the form of natural language and expression. Mixed Methods Research Use JARS–Mixed when your study combines both quantitative and qualitative methods. What is APA Style JARS? APA Style Journal Article Reporting Standards (APA Style JARS) are a set of guidelines designed for journal authors, reviewers, and editors to enhance scientific rigor in peer-reviewed journal articles. The guidelines include information on what should be included in all manuscript sections for: For more information on APA Style JARS:
The Thinker Builder: Step In, Step Out: A Strategy for Thinking Deeply About Text You're sitting at your guided reading table, your little group gathered around you, wide-eyed. Or are you the one who's wide-eyed? Sure, you know what you're doing, but maybe right now you're thinking your lesson plan doesn't fit the book like you thought it would. Or that maybe your lesson plan is just lame. Or maybe you don't have a lesson plan and are winging it (oh, come on, we've all been there). "Boy, I could really use a mini-lesson right now," you think. Here's something to try: I call it the "Step In - Step Out" strategy. Step In! Asking students to "step in" to the story means that students enter the world of the story to analyze the choices the CHARACTERS make. Why did this character make this choice? Step Out! Asking students to "step out" of the story means that students look at the story as a piece of writing, and analyze the choices the AUTHOR makes. Why did the author decide to write this part? Let's get back to your lesson. "Let's go back to when Sue Ellen went to the park.
Studying for exams? Here's how to make your memory work for you Have you ever thought about how your brain works when you study? Knowing this may improve your ability to retain and recall information. There are three main memory structures: sensory, working and long-term memory. 1. Activating your sensory memory is the first step. So think about it – to activate your sensory memory, you should activate as many senses as possible. Instead of just reading your textbook, try learning using podcasts, visual aids such as posters, presentations and online blogs. When we activate our sensory memory, we engage in the processes of attention and perception. Humans must pay attention to learn and the more cognitive resources we allocate to a task, at any given time, the faster we learn. Sensory and working memory are so limited, learners need to allocate their resources to important information as selectively as possible and with minimal distraction. Read more: Study habits for success: tips for students 2. Read more: Comic explainer: how memory works 3.
How to write better essays: 'nobody does introductions properly' | Education As the government begins its crackdown on essay mill websites, it’s easy to see just how much pressure students are under to get top grades for their coursework these days. But writing a high-scoring paper doesn’t need to be complicated. We spoke to experts to get some simple techniques that will raise your writing game. Tim Squirrell is a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, and is teaching for the first time this year. When he was asked to deliver sessions on the art of essay-writing, he decided to publish a comprehensive (and brilliant) blog on the topic, offering wisdom gleaned from turning out two or three essays a week for his own undergraduate degree. “There is a knack to it,” he says. Poke holes The goal of writing any essay is to show that you can think critically about the material at hand (whatever it may be). “You need to be using your higher cognitive abilities,” says Bryan Greetham, author of the bestselling How to Write Better Essays. Critique your own arguments
Empathy in Leadership: Coaching Leaders to Manage Their Stories When leaders struggle with staff morale or direct reports failing to thrive, a lack of empathy is the lead domino. These leaders forget that, as humans, we tend to make decisions based on our stories about other people. These stories impact our every interaction with others because we can’t hide the emotions behind them. Our stories also determine our broader management tactics, which can be as wildly off the mark as our stories themselves. Negative stories about others that we hold as leaders come from what Heath and Heath call the “Fundamental Attribution Error” (Switch, 2010). The antidote is what I have come to call the noble story. Much of my coaching involves helping school leaders connect personally with teachers and parents who have disappointed them, who are actively resisting them, or who just don’t share their race, class, gender, or philosophy. This line of coaching begins when I hear my leaders start to explain their report’s behavior with their negative stories.
How to paraphrase effortlessly so you can gain clarity from every conversation! Paraphrasing - A key communication skill What is it about learning how to paraphrase that can really make the difference to the outcome of a conversation?Is paraphrasing the key to gaining clarity from EVERY conversation you have?Will learning how to paraphrase really make the difference for YOU when it comes to knowing what to say when you communicate in your business with prospects, customers and business partners? So let's explore this concept of paraphrasing a little further. Have you ever wondered why it is that some people just seem to have "the gift of the gab"? Not only do they often seem to be the person that people are drawn to in a social and business settings, but they seem to have this uncanny knack of being able to open up the communication process in such a way that they have the most introverted people wanting to talk to them! What exactly is it they are doing? Have you ever analyzed their communication style and techniques? 'MUST HAVE' Communication Skills In other words………
Good to Great: The Hedgehog Concept In continuing with the current theme of Good to Great, I would now like to explore the idea that Jim Collin's put forth which he dubbed the Hedgehog Concept. What Is The Hedgehog Concept? The Hedgehog Concept comes for the old Greek parable about a hedgehog and a fox which states the following: The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing In the story, the fox tries all the possible tricks he knows in order to try catch the hedgehog. If you project this into a modern context, the fox could be seen as a company that pursues many goals at the same time. However, if a company were to act like a hedgehog it would operate at a slow and steady pace that simplifies the world into a single vision, which they focus on. Recently, I was looking at the the changes that Satya Nadella had been making, since he took over Microsoft. The Three Circles The Hedgehog Concept is comprised of three main concepts which are as follows: What can you be the best in the world at? Parting Words
Hedgehog Concept by Jim Collins: a Powerful Strategy Tool | ToolsHero This article describes the concept of the Hedgehog Concept by Jim Collins in a practical way. After reading you will understand the definition and basics of this powerful strategy tool. What is the Hedgehog Concept? The Hedgehog Concept by the American business consultant Jim Collins shows how a company or person can be successful in business. It’s about the power of simplicity, increasing the chance of success. Classic story The Hedgehog Concept is based on an ancient Greek parable about the hedgehog and the fox. Circles According to Collins, the Hedgehog Concept consists of understanding three circles that each start with a question. Circle 1: What are you deeply passionate about? This is about understanding and finding out everyone’s passion within the organisation. Circle 2: What can you be the best in the world at? Here, it’s about understanding why the organisation is good at what it does. Circle 3: What drives your economic engine? Overlap It’s Your Turn What do you think?
Only One in 10 People Possess the Talent to Manage | Gallup Story Highlights Talent is the natural capacity for excellenceManagers with high talent are better brand ambassadorsManagers with high talent are more likely to focus on strengths One of the most important decisions companies make is simply whom they name manager, Gallup has found. Yet our analytics suggest they usually get it wrong: Companies fail to choose the candidate with the right talent for the job 82% of the time. And great managers are scarce because the talent required to be one is rare. Gallup's research shows that about one in 10 people possess high talent to manage. Defining Talent Gallup's latest report, State of the American Manager: Analytics and Advice for Leaders, provides an in-depth look at what characterizes great managers and examines the crucial links between talent, engagement and vital business outcomes such as profitability and productivity. Gallup defines talent as the natural capacity for excellence. Manager Talent and Performance
How Humble Leadership Really Works Top-down leadership is outdated and counterproductive. By focusing too much on control and end goals, and not enough on their people, leaders are making it more difficult to achieve their own desired outcomes. The key, then, is to help people feel... When you’re a leader — no matter how long you’ve been in your role or how hard the journey was to get there — you are merely overhead unless you’re bringing out the best in your employees. Unfortunately, many leaders lose sight of this. Power, as my colleague Ena Inesi has studied, can cause leaders to become overly obsessed with outcomes and control, and, therefore, treat their employees as means to an end. Take for example a UK food delivery service that I’ve studied. This type of top-down leadership is outdated, and, more importantly, counterproductive. The key, then, is to help people feel purposeful, motivated, and energized so they can bring their best selves to work. Here’s how to do it. The new approach? Be humble