Scratch Your Brain: Novel Ways to Interest Students in Critical Thinking

Objectives Briefly discuss definitions of “critical

thinking.” Consider arguments and critical

thinking. Consider characteristics of critical

thinkers. Explore some novel critical thinking

exercises. Discuss ways to use resources in

teaching.

Definition

What is YOUR definition of

critical thinking?

Common Definitions

Thinking “outside” the box

“Unlimited” thinking

Divergent thinking

Another Definition

“The intellectually disciplined

process of actively and skillfully

conceptualizing, applying, analyzing,

synthesizing, and evaluating information.”

The National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, 1987The National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, 1987

Another Definition

“Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and

evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.”

The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts And Tools, 5 ed.

Quote – Henry Ford

Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably why so few engage in it.

Arguments Inductive ReasoningDeductive Reasoning

Syllogism – major premise, minor premise, conclusion

Humans are mortalGreeks are humanTherefore, Greeks are mortal

Resource

http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/main.html

Make Your ArgumentMonty Python: Argument Clinic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDjCqjzbvJY&playnext=1&list=PL8263C81EE53E94FA

Visual Argument

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGp0WWfEadg&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Critical thinking is . . .

• Self-disciplined• Self-monitored• Self-corrective

thinking

Thinking Critically Means …

Examining different viewpoints

Learn to think from different perspectives

Young girl? or

Old woman?

Man playing horn? or

Woman’s silhouette?

A Native American face?

or An Eskimo’s back?

What/Who Doesn’t Belong? And Why?

whale, shark, zebracamera, photographer, pilotSigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Rick

PerryAristotle, Plato, Frank FairMonet, Renoir, Einstein Copland, Mozart, Bach De Castro, Muehsam, Harman

What Do They Have in Common?

Aristotle, Plato, Frank FairMilton Friedman, Robert Solow,

Carl MengerZimbardo, Bandura, MilgrimDoor-in the face, foot-in-the-door,

low-ballVera Wang, Sarah Burton, Carolina

Herrera

The CamelsAn Arab sheik tells his two sons to

race their camels to a distant city to see who will inherit his fortune. The one whose camel is slower will win. The brothers, after wandering aimlessly for days, ask a wise man for advice. After hearing the advice, they jump on the camels and race as fast as they can to the city. What does the wise man say?

The Wise Man Says…

Switch camels.

Train Wreck One train leaves from NYC heading

towards LA at 100 mph. Three hours later, a train leaves from LA heading towards NYC at 200 mph. Assume there’s exactly 2000 miles between LA and NYC. When they meet, which train is closer to NYC?

When they meet…

they’re both at the same spot, so they are both the same distance from NYC.

Going to St. Ives

As I was going to St. Ives I met a man with seven wives. Each wife had seven sacks. Each sack had seven cats. Each cat had seven kits. Kits, cats, sacks, and wives, how many were going to St. Ives?

Some months have 31 days; how many have 28?

How many outs are in an inning?

There are 3 apples and you take away 2. How many do you have?

Common Phrases

DECI SION

ANOTHER ONE

Common Word

A duck, a goose, a goat, and a horse all entered the barn at different times one day last week.1) A mammal entered the barn first.2) The duck entered before the goose.3) The goose entered ahead of the horse.

Who entered the barn first?

Common Phrases

CHIEDITOREF

T   2222

Word FunDetermine both one-word answers.

The floor of ship or boat,They walk on me at sea;Where there’s a C, make it an S,At school you sit on me.

What Economic Phrases?

advantage

demchangeand

History Terms?

ISM

Poetry Terms?coo

+ t +

+s r

Phrase

Fun Theory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbEKAwCoCKw&NR=1

DiscussHow might you use some of these

ideas in your classroom?

Could students use critical thinking in generating critical thinking activities to share with the class?

How Not to Be Stupid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9BMyaftZ1A

Thank You

Contact me:harman@shsu.edu