Something I find very interesting is that we teach the four aspects of a critical thinker to be: Knowledgeable, open-minded, creative and curious. I'm wondering if these qualities will come up in the remainder of this course.

In the contemporary social and work environments, "change" is the plan-of-the-day. Having the skill to identify problems or areas for improvement for effectiveness, efficiency, and/or profitability is invaluable. Students who have honed a critical thinking-problem solving skill will find their employment opportunities expanded. No longer will degree completion or a 2-year competency certificate suffice. Thinkers, planners, creaters, evaluaters, and progressives will rule the day.

In Management and Leadership courses students are best challenged to "observe and reflect" situations requiring a solution. I have found that students can learn to be disciplined, questioning, and make reasoned judgments when allowed time to think, interact, research, and then form conclusions associated with these "life-reflecting" teaching tools.No feedback from employers has ever suggested that the graduates are asked to define terms or conclude a "true-false" fact.

Developing varying degrees of skill to think critically is imperative for searching,analyzing, communicating, and implementing problem-solving judgments in all areas of endeavor: personal, social, business, education, family.etc. Learning to be a lifelong learner is essential for pursuing one's career passions, family responsibilities, and social interactions. Perhaps an academic requirement for all undergrads should be an exposure to a course in Critical Thinking.

Taking a break gives the problem solver time to have the information and possible solutions to sink in. Problem thinker can weigh all the evidences that have been gathered and observe what others have done and see what else he/she has to do.This is important whether one is writing a research paper , working on an art project, or even preparing for a presentation or an exam.

As a culinary instructor, I find it challenging to keep all of my students engaged in the subject matter at the same time. During Demo/lecture days, I find it hard to keep all of the students entertained with what we are trying to demo. I understand that not everyone learns the same way, so I try to go over the lesson 2-4 different ways. I have noticed that when I take that approach, it's a more effective way of teaching the entire class. Especially with having such a broad age range in students. -Gabriel Alvarez Le Cordon Bleu Chicago

Students are exposed both to printed and electronic sources. They are overwhelmed by information from databases. This is when critical thinking comes to play. Which info is accurate? Which is valid? Instructors can help students discern the academic and scholarly sources.

One technique that works well with adult learning is group work. For example, I have students get into groups of 2 to 3. Then students ask each questions from a handout; goal is to get to know the students. Then team members introduce someone other than themselves in the group. This way students establish a "common ground" and there is a sense of camaraderie. This is a positive way to get student participation going in a Communications Class. Any other suggestions?

It is best to check attendance at the beginning of the class period. A student should also be made to know that whether he/she is not in class yet, the class will start and that he/she is responsible for what he/she has missed. Lastly, any homework is to be collected at the beginning of the class period.

There are many class activities that can generate critical thinking, such as brainstorming, group presentations, peer editing. When students ask each others how they can organize the presentation, what devices they can use to enhance their presentation, when they go over each others writing assignments, discuss their recommendations for correction- all these give students the opportunities to reason, to question, and to make judgments. The instructor has to make sure though that everybody in the group participates in the planning and in the discussions.

Having a book in front of you and a power point can help you but there are various additions that prove useful. Having hard parts that they can pass around as well as drawing specific systems in the board and having them copy them aids in the understanding and retention of the topic.

In one of our intro classes I have a project where the student must give their opinion on a current subject.. IE. ObamaCare.... Then we form up groups based on their current bias. They must research the item with 5 facts that are opposite of their current opinion that they did not know before they did the research. It's used as a thought provoking discussion of how they form opinions on what is not necessarily all the required information.

supporting the students mental is very importing you never know who you are helping out with your support

pretesting allows you to know where your students are at

i like the training part of this session it allows you to test on the things that was taught

I really like the thinking break and how your brain need a break to regroup

The essential task of the educator is to arrange conditions of the learner’s environment so that processes of learning will be activated, supported, enhanced, and maintained.” Also, the instructor must be able to demonstrate considerable knowledge of the principles and methodologies of effective teaching and learning with demonstrated experiences in sharing that knowledge with colleagues through formal and informal professional learning activities.

What are some ways to introduce more self-directed learning activities into the classroom environment?

Kolb provided us with insight into the different types of personality. He created a four-quadrant model as well; including ways we sense, perceive and respond to external stimuli. He thought there were Thinkers, Watchers, Feelers and Doers. In my psych class I ask the class to write down which combination(s) they are and then do an inventory to see if there responses match their notions of their personality. It got me thinking, how much of what theorists assign to the left brain or right brain might be more of a process of the mind i.e. the development of the personality and how you approach problem solving?

I find when dealing with adult students they want to get to the core of the subject matter. They want cut through the fluff and get to the point.