At this reflection point in the course, I am gravitating towards the IDEALS framework as a teaching strategy for building/strengthening critical thinking skills in my students. I serve as faculty and program chair for a community college early childhood education program, and am tasked with designing program components that marry the art of science of career readiness for our graduates while respecting that many of our students "after the fact"...that is to say that they have been working in early childhood prior to enrolling in our program. IDEALS might be a great way to meet my students where they are at as they build knowledge in the field and learn how to use it more effectively.
