Using Critical Thinking Elements Wheel as Staff Training Tool

Rhonda OrmanJefferson Community & Technical College

UsingCritical ThinkingElements Wheelas Staff Training Tool

1Embellished Elements Wheel

2Our Experience with the WheelEmbellished Elements Wheel

Responding to Blinders / Blockers

Practice, Practice, Practice

Strengths and Challenges3Goals of Training InitiativeImprove communication and collaboration among staff within department

Improve departments level of customer service to rest of college

Improve employee morale4Starting Point My thinking is fine.

What are they thinking?!

5STAGE 1: The Unreflective ThinkerWe are unaware of significant problemsin our thinking.

Subject Matter ExpertsExtensive knowledge and expertiseUnreflective Thinker Lack of Intelligence6Reality Check

7Stage 2: the challenged thinkerWe become aware of problems in our thinking.

Surprise Retirement Party for Prof. HistoryPurposeAssumptionsQuestions at IssueConceptsPurpose (again)

8Stage 3: the beginning thinkerWe try to improve but without regular practice.

Poem ExerciseUncomfortableOverwhelmingEasier w/ consistent practice

9Stage 4: the practicing thinkerWe recognize the necessity of regular practice and begin to develop a systematic approach to improving our ability to think.

Practice. Practice. Practice.Practice some more.

10INTERNALIZING THE ELEMENTS

11PURPOSEWhat are we trying to do?

12POINT OF VIEW (insert your Name) is at the center of my point of view.

13QUESTIONS AT ISSUEwhat question are we trying to answer?

14ASSUMPTIONSunquestioned beliefs and opinions

15IMPLICATIONS AND CONSEQUENCESPositive and/or Negative?

16INFORMATIONWhat do we know? How do we know it is accurate?(HINT: This is not opinions or beliefs.)

17CONCEPTSHow do we understand key terms?

18CONCLUSIONS AND INTERPRETATIONSDead Ends. Multiple Routes. Ongoing Journey.

19ALTERNATIVESWhat else?

20PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE.Using Paul/Elder CT framework as foundation for training initiative

Use of vacated space in office suite

Communication

21Whats Next Carl Sagans Pale Blue Dot

There is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. It is up to us to find solutions.

It is our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we have ever known.22We have a choiceHow do we cherishour departmentour collegeour role in higher educationour role in serving our community

Will we employ our best thinking on a regular basis?

Will we continue to practice, practice, and practice some more?

23CHALLENGESOvercoming My thinking is fine Critical Thinking is HARD WORK

Intellectual Work

Creating safety

24STRENGTHSApplication for all aspects of life

Trust built with continued practice

Facilitated improvement in multiple areas:CommunicationCustomer serviceCollaboration in problem solving25WEAKNESSESSlow, arduous process

No quick fixes

Buy-in voluntary

Success difficult to measure quantitatively26Explicitly Teaching CTEmbedded within discipline

Other aspects of my lifeBuying a new car?Senior thesis?Grad school? Which program?

27Explicitly Teaching CTWe cannot solve a problem we do not admit to. We cannot deal with a condition we deny. Will we take up, or back away from the challenge to improve our thinking? Or will we retreat into that comfortable self-complacency that is natural to the human mind?

Criticalthinking.org

28