i t is all a B out Critical T hinking

it is all aBout Critical Thinking

Kareen Sharawy

it is all aBout

Critical Thinking

The easy way

it is all aBout

Critical Thinking

The right way

Resistance

The easy way The right way

Mostly form and minimal

consideration to content

Mostly content and reasonable

consideration to form

An essay that deserves a 5

•Is well organized and well developed, using clearly appropriate explanations and exemplifications and/or details•Displays unity, progression and coherence •Displays, consistent facility in the use of language, demonstrating syntactic variety, appropriate word choice, and idiomaticity, though it may have minor lexical or grammatical errors

•Addresses the topic and task

3 out of 4 descriptors require critical thinking abilities

Topic : "As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate."

“As we know, nowadays technological equipment is used widely all over world. High standard of computer can not only stimulate most type of creatures, but also can calculate political changes in different countries. For this reason, a lot of people have trusted a sensational coverage that human’s thinking will deteriorate.” ( sample)

Amorphous Listing Disconnected Chunks

Memorised SentencesIrrelevant Information

Meaningless Sentences

Definition of Critical Thinking

7

Critical thinking is a learned ability that must be taught;

Most individuals never learn critical thinking in regular curricula;

Critical thinking cannot be taught reliably to students by peers or by most parents;

Critical thinking requires great motivation and a strong will power.

Steven D. Schafersman January, 1991

8

Can ask appropriate questions;

Can gather relevant information;

Can efficiently and creatively sort through this information;

Can reason logically from this information;

Can mange time and resources wisely;

AN INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING

Steven D. Schafersman, 1991

Definition of Critical Thinker

Towards More Critical Skills…

analyzing

applying

synthesizing

evaluating

observing

reflecting

reasoning

understanding

Frager & Thompson’s (1985)

The writing section in tests prepares and introduces the students to the nature of academic writing in North American universities

The writing section in tests attempts to assess prospectus students’ in using critical thinking skills.

Because many test takers never learn critical thinking in regular curricula, test preparation teachers are advised to deal with the resistance before addressing any other test preparation strategies


“Conspiracy for the Least,"

11

Training students to do critical thinking is not an easy task. Teaching which involves higher level cognitive processes, comprehension, inference, and decision making often proves problematic for students.

Such instruction is often associated with delays in the progress of a lesson, with low success and completion rates, and even with direct negotiations by students to alter the demands of work (Doyle, 1985).

This negotiation by students is understandable. They have made a career of passive learning. When met by instructional situations in which they may have to use some mental energies, some students resist that intellectual effort.

What emerges is what Sizer (1984) calls "conspiracy for the least," an agreement by the teacher and students to do just enough to get by.

Listening

Reading

Writing

Speaking

Reasoning

Prioritizing

Outlining

Constructing

arguments

Sections and

Skills


Test

Book

Practice Teachers

Exercises

CourseHW

Studying

Scores

Towards More Critical Skills…W

hat s

tude

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out

Think

Be Independent

Support Be Open

Reasons

Be Critical Language

Views

Organisation

Towards More Critical Skills…W

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Over Coming Resistance


•Students are only interested in compiling 300 words with minimal thinking considerations and in less than 30 minutes. •Students’ sole concern is accuracy, disregarding logic, exemplification and decision-making.


Keeley et al (1995),


•According to Keeley et al (1995), a good instructor like a good therapist needs to help the students realise that their resistance is a problem.• It is necessary to help students understand that their resistance to critical thinking will definitely impede their progress in the course and will have a negative impact on their results in the writing section of the test.

Stages of Resistance

Relativism

Multiplicity

Dualism

Commitment

Pre resistance

During Resistance Stage


Post Resistance Stage

Pre Resistance Stage

Dualism

Pre Resistance Stage: Pressure

•Students will seek to get the right answer from the teacher •Students will think that during the test preparation courses, they will be given opportunities to learn model templates in a fast and an easy way •Students will spend infinite numbers of hours trying to memorise published samples, instead of practising the required skills.

Pre Resistance Stage: Symptoms

There is. one ultimate truth and it has been already decided by some form of authority (Traditions - Parent – State Perry (1981)

1. Dualism

•Good vs. Bad,•Right vs. Wrong•We vs. They


sociocentrismegocentrism

1. Dualism

The Thinking Box: Solution

•What would make you change your mind?

I believe so because I feel so•Why?•Do you think you may be wrong ? Why yes Why not?

I believe so because I was told so•Who told you?•Why do you believe them?•Are they always right?

I believe so because everyone believes so•Why?•Do you think they may be wrong ? Why yes Why not?•What would make them change your mind?

I believe so because I read so•Where?•What did you read?•Why do you believe it is true?


Multiplicity

Multiplicity is also considered another uncomfortable higher stage because students will attempt to:

•Temporize: Postpone making a decision when outlining an essay•Escape: Create a wishy-washy argument•Retreat: Suffer from a form of writer’s block

Perry, W. G (1981). Cognitive and ethical growth: The making of meaning. In A. W. Chickering (Ed.)

During Resistance Stage: Symptoms

2. Multiplicity

Two Heads Better than One: Solution

Two Heads Better than One: Solution•This is my opinion because?

•My partner thinks this way because?

This helps students to easily construct arguments and counter arguments

100 Question Game Cards: Solution

Why do people put rings in their eyebrows and nose?

:

http://life.familyeducation.com/communication/family-time/36021.html?page=3&detoured=1


3. Relativism

During Resistance Stage Symptoms

•Students are open to multiple views•Students understand that it is essential to contemplate all aspects of an argument and learn how to integrate and support their views• In many cases, there is a regression to the dualism stage and a longing for a time when writing was a simple mechanical narration of standard ideas

3. Relativism

During Resistance Stage: Solutions

Timing the task at this stage is irrelevant because many students automatically regress under time pressure.

Post Resistance Stage

Commitment

Once students get beyond Relativism, they are able to commit to their own views.Students become comfortable that knowledge is transforming, and values are changing.

Post Resistance Stage4. Commitment

Research, Present and Debate

Post Resistance Stage: Activities

Critical Editing : The Color Code

SpellingStructureMore explanation required

Repetition Ideas not clearUsage

Virtual Assistance

Groups

Websites

Skype

Conclusion

Test preparation teachers need to encourage the students to go through the 4 stages of writing even though this approach will lead to disturbance in the progress of a lesson, and even if they sense resistance from the students (Doyle, 1985).

Conclusion

Thank you

Any Questions?

i t is all a B out Critical T hinking

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