Here Are Some Really Neat Presentations and Games (Activities) to Use and Modify

All South Mountain instructors are welcomed to either attend these classes or use the course materials linked below. Please note that PowerPoint slides are available for each module...but their file size was too  big to load on the website.  To receive these, please stop by the TLC with a Flash (thumb) drive.

Think for Yourself-Rising Above Your Limitations by Ascending to Higher Level Thinking is a six-module classroom-based critical thinking series developed and funded through the South Mountain Community College Title V Grant. All South Mountain Community College teaching staff members are welcomed to attend these classes to increase their critical thinking skills in order to apply them in the courses they teach.   

These classes are being taught in the Teaching & Learning Center, Room TC 203 and can be taken either as a series or individually. Each hour long class is very hands-on and presents background information as well as encourages participation in an activity where learners apply the information in everyday situations that require critical thinking.

And, look for more classes about different critical thinking topics soon!

These courses are based on the work of two eminent critical thinking experts- Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder. http://www.criticalthinking.org/index.cfm

These are the topics-

What It's About	Module
Developing Intellectual Traits= Intellectual Standards + Elements of Reasoning Part One-Applying the Standards In order to think critically, students need to be in command of standards called Universal Intellectual Standards. What happens when students learn to use these standards? After applying these standards to thinking to improve the quality of reasoning about a problem, issue or situation, these standards become instilled in thinking and form part of an inner voice that guides improvement in thinking. In this class, learn how to use these Universal Intellectual Standards- Clarity Accuracy Precision Relevance Depth Breadth Logic Significance Fairness Here is the class (module) hand-out- Learner Guide2_Module One Here is the activity used while teaching the module- Critical Thinking Activity_ModOne Here are additional items needed to complete this activity as a game. Click the link below and print the page off. Cut the statements into strips and put them in a bag. Have enough filled bags for each group participating in the game (activity). Cut and Put Strips in a Bag A certificate also used in the "game" is available, but please stop by the Teaching and Learning Center with a flash/thumb drive to get it.	Module One
Developing Intellectual Traits= Intellectual Standards + Elements of Reasoning Part Two-Finding Reasoning In Everyday Life Students are probably using “The Elements of Reasoning” when they begin to reason after progressing from undisciplined and purely associational thought to thinking using other dimensions to figure something out. By working together, these elements shape reasoning and provide a general logic to the use of reason. Learn how to improve these Elements of Reasoning- Purpose Find Solutions to Questions and Problem Solve Assumptions Point of View Information, Data, Evidence Concepts and Ideas Inferences, Interpretations, Conclusions giving meaning to data Implications and Consequences Here is the class(module) hand-out- Learner Guide2_ModuleTwo Here is the activity used while teaching the module- Critical Thinking Activity_ModTwo	Module Two
Has the Quality of Your Thinking Made You Who You Are Right Now? How can students who are also shoppers, employees, citizens, lovers, friends, parents, learners and professionals use good, skilled thinking in every realm and situation in their lives? Good thinking pays off in all of life’s circumstances and in contrast, poor thinking leads to problems, frustration, pain and wasted time and energy. Take this class to find out how the disciplined art of critical thinking can ensure the best use of critical thinking in any set of circumstances. Here is the class (module) hand-out- Learner Guide2_ModuleThree Here is the activity (in this case a self-assessment) used while teaching the module- Mod 3 Self Assessment	Module Three
Getting Here to There-Stages of Critical Thinking Development Which one are you in? Where do your students fit in on this scale? Most people are unaware of the stages they pass through as they improve as thinkers but the quality of one’s life is dependent upon high quality reasoning in all domains of life. So it’s time to learn how systematically improving one’s thinking by subjecting it to intellectual self-assessment can move students through various stages of critical thinking. These are the stages: Stage One: The Unreflective Thinker- Unawareness of Significant Problems in Thinking Stage Two: The Challenged Thinker- Faced with Significant Problems in Thinking Stage Three: The Beginning Thinker- Improvement but Without Regular Practice Stage Four: The Practicing Thinker-Recognizing the Need for Regular Practice Stage Five: The Advanced Thinker-Advancement through Practicing Stage Six: The Master Thinker- Good Habits of Thoughts Becoming Second Nature Here is the class (module) hand-out- Learner Guide2_ModuleFour	Module Four
Questions, Questions, Questions Knowing What and How to Ask Thinking is not drive by answers but by questions. Every discipline stays alive only to the extent that fresh questions are generated and become a driving force in the process of thinking. One must always ask questions to stimulate thoughts. That’s why it is true that only students who are presented with questions are really thinking and learning. Come to this class and learn how to ask questions to generate further questions…..and not just get the answers that often bring thought to a halt. Learn how to ask questions to define tasks, express problems and delineate issues. Only when an answer generates a further question does thought continue its life. Here is the class (module) hand-out- LearnerGuide2_ModuleFive	Module Five
Determining Outcomes by Using the Power of Problem-Solving Problems and decision making are embedded into life and every decision impacts our problems by either minimizing contributing to them. Even worse, poor decisions can also create more and harder-to-solve problems. Why can’t people including our students discover and implement successful solutions to their problems? Find out by attending this class and discover new ways to include problem-solving in your classes. Here is the class (module) hand-out- Learner Guide2_ModuleSix	Module Six