RHONDA ORMAN JEFFERSON COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE USING CRITICAL THINKING ELEMENTS WHEEL AS STAFF TRAINING TOOL EMBELLISHED ELEMENTS WHEEL OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE WHEEL Embellished Elements Wheel Responding to Blinders / Blockers Practice, Practice, Practice Strengths and Challenges GOALS OF TRAINING INITIATIVE Improve communication and collaboration among staff within department Improve departments level of customer service to rest of college Improve employee morale STARTING POINT My thinking is fine. What are they thinking?! STAGE 1: THE UNREFLECTIVE THINKER We are unaware of significant problems in our thinking. Subject Matter Experts Extensive knowledge and expertise Unreflective Thinker Lack of Intelligence REALITY CHECK STAGE 2: THE CHALLENGED THINKER We become aware of problems in our thinking. Surprise Retirement Party for Prof. History Purpose Assumptions Questions at Issue Concepts Purpose (again) STAGE 3: THE BEGINNING THINKER We try to improve but without regular practice. Poem Exercise Uncomfortable Overwhelming Easier w/ consistent practice STAGE 4: THE PRACTICING THINKER We 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. INTERNALIZING THE ELEMENTS PURPOSE WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO? POINT OF VIEW (INSERT YOUR NAME) IS AT THE CENTER OF MY POINT OF VIEW. QUESTIONS AT ISSUE WHAT QUESTION ARE WE TRYING TO ANSWER? ASSUMPTIONS UNQUESTIONED BELIEFS AND OPINIONS IMPLICATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES POSITIVE AND/OR NEGATIVE? INFORMATION WHAT DO WE KNOW? HOW DO WE KNOW IT IS ACCURATE? (HINT: THIS IS NOT OPINIONS OR BELIEFS.) CONCEPTS HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND KEY TERMS? CONCLUSIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS DEAD ENDS. MULTIPLE ROUTES. ONGOING JOURNEY. ALTERNATIVES WHAT ELSE? PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE. Using Paul/Elder CT framework as foundation for training initiative Use of vacated space in office suite Communication WHATS 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. WE HAVE A CHOICE How do we cherish our department our college our role in higher education our 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? CHALLENGES Overcoming My thinking is fine Critical Thinking is HARD WORK Intellectual Work Creating safety STRENGTHS Application for all aspects of life Trust built with continued practice Facilitated improvement in multiple areas: Communication Customer service Collaboration in problem solving WEAKNESSES Slow, arduous process No quick fixes Buy-in voluntary Success difficult to measure quantitatively EXPLICITLY TEACHING CT Embedded within discipline Other aspects of my life Buying a new car? Senior thesis? Grad school? Which program? EXPLICITLY TEACHING CT We 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