Thinking critically about critical thinking.

Counterpoint:

Rupananda's forum topic is a doozy, and I admire his very well-researched and well articulated opening to the discussion.  Critical thinking is yet another contemporary concept (some might even describe it as a buzz word.)  Invariably, it's an important concept to discuss but my views may be opposite to the latest trends.

http://theconversation.com/lets-stop-trying-to-teach-students-critical-thinking-30321

Here are some eye-catching quotes that speak to me:

"This involves more than asking young people to “look critically” at something, as if criticism was a mechanical task."

"Seen as a skill, critical thinking can also mean subjection to the conformism of an ideological yoke."

"When teachers talk about the need to be “critical” they often mean instead that students must “conform”. "

"Socrates only sought knowledge and to be a Socrates today means putting knowledge first."

As facilitators, we must put knowledge first and model critical behavior.  However, the expectation to teach the skill of critical thinking is hypocritical, and to believe we can is self-adulating.

Here's my equation:

Teaching= modeling behavior + skills + knowledge

Critical thinking= education + experience

Some Best Practices of Student Engagement

Thought:

I was reading up on student engagement for my first of three reflective journals.  Of course, following any dissection of student engagement techniques bring up psychology.   I happened upon a great piece of literature that I thought I would share with my fellow facilitators.

Best Practices in Student Engagement, Christenson, et. al. (2008).

Albeit it's just one chapter, it's a captivating read that allows one to take stock of which best practices they may (or may not) be employing when planning, delivering and evaluating educational plans.

Enjoy!

Blogs of interest

Here are some blogs from other learners in the same course as me.

https://adamneave.wordpress.com/

Adam and I work in the same facility, both in the school of health sciences.  Like me, Adam is expanding his educational understanding and repertoire with the PIDP program.

Enjoy!

Vancouver Community College

Something of interest:

Here is the link to VCC's school of instructor education facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/VCCSchoolOfInstructorEducation#

Talk soon,

Efram

Intro and Bio

Reminiscing:

I am Efram, currently living and teaching in Doha, Qatar.  I have been involved in teaching since the age of 16, when I began working as a swim instructor.  Since then, teaching has been (more or less) a part of my life.  I have taught swimming, life-guarding, first aid, CPR, motorcycle road racing, scale model building and painting, continuing medical education and am now training paramedics (the reason I have come to the Middle East.)

I'm not sure how I began down my path of teaching. My father and mother had diverse interests and were eager to share them with me, including photography, cycling, swimming and textiles.  Perhaps seeing them so enthusiastically impart knowledge has ingrained itself deep within my psyche.  I often hear my father or mother's voice echo inside my thoughts as I strive to facilitate other people's path to understanding.

My career in paramedicine is what ultimately landed me teaching full time.  I enrolled at Algonquin College in Ottawa, my hometown, at the tender age of 21, (in the year 2002, for the record).  The paramedic program was a rude awakening, and I failed out within 6 weeks of the first semester.  Determined to succeed, I set about rethinking my priorities in life and the following 2 1/2 years changed the course of my life.  I made a few close friends, and set off down a career path that would shape me into the person I am today.

The intensity of this career is underscored by periods of serenity, and the experiences that any paramedic lives through leave indelible imprints.  It's hard to imagine many other jobs that become part of you and change you.  Teaching, I believe, is yet another example of just such a job. It engages you, enrages you, humbles you, makes you smile, makes you cry and makes you marvel, all in one day.

Talk soon,

Efram