Session: 17-01-01: Research Posters

Paper Number: 144121

144121 - Promoting Creative Critical Thinking in an Online Environment 

Critical thinking has been defined as the mental process of activity that promotes skillful perception.  This should enable the individual to analyze, synthesize and evaluate the collected information through observation, experience and communication.   In her famous book Invitation to Psychology, Stanford University Graduate Dr. Carole Wade weaves scientific and critical thinking into the fabric of psychological science.   In this presentation, the author outlines certain strategies to motivate students to cultivate a level of thinking that enables them to become independent learners.   Marylou Dantonio provides a list of five types of questions that enable learners to become self-motivated critical thinkers.

 

1.    REFOCUSSING QUESTIONS – To help the learner approach the problem via a different route.  

2.    NARROWING THE FOCUS QUESTIONS – Basically changing the question so that the learner can think in smaller terms initially. 

3.    CLARIFYING QUESTIONS – This is used when the student's answer needs to be very clear and specific down to the point.   

4.    VERIFYING QUESTIONS – This will make the students provide further information to support their answers. 

5.    SUPPORTING QUESTIONS – This is utilized to bring the student’s critical thinking capabilities out, and to help the instructor and student see how the student is connecting and explaining information.

 

The founder of Insight Assessment, Dr. Peter Facione also clearly and engagingly, explains what exactly critical thinking is.   The author has worked in this area for a very long time and has published and presented dozens of papers.  In this presentation he outlines how he has successfully utilized Critical Thinking Techniques to enhance educational objectives in an online learning environment.

 

Presenting Author: MYSORE NARAYANAN MIAMI UNIVERSITY

Presenting Author Biography: DR. MYSORE NARAYANAN obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Liverpool, England in the area of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He joined Miami University in 1980 and teaches a wide variety of electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering courses. He has been invited to contribute articles to several encyclopedias and has published and presented dozens of papers at local, regional , national and international conferences. He has also designed, developed, organized and chaired several conferences for Miami University and conference sessions for a variety of organizations. He is a senior member of IEEE and is a member of ASME, SIAM, ASEE and AGU. He is actively involved in CELT activities and regularly participates and presents at the Lilly Conference. He has been the recipient of several Faculty Learning Community awards. He is also very active in assessment activities and has presented more than thirty five papers at various Assessment Institutes. His posters in the areas of Assessment, Bloom’s Taxonomy and Socratic Inquisition have received widespread acclaim from several scholars in the area of Cognitive Science and Educational Methodologies. He has received the Assessment of Critical Thinking Award twice and is currently working towards incorporating writing assignments that enhance students’ critical thinking capabilities.

Authors:

MYSORE NARAYANAN MIAMI UNIVERSITY