Course Guide for Critical Thinking

The Critical Thinking module

It provides videos and quizzes which faculty can use to further contribute to student success—retention, GPA levels, employability, etc.   The pack covers five foundational skills:

Cultural and Citizenship:
1. Video: Introduction to Civic Action: Effective communication is a key part of successful civic action.Use this video to introduce students to the fundamental role communication plays in the stages of planning, implementing, an discussing civic action.

2. Video: Introduction to Civic Engagement: Part of being a responsible, informed citizen is engaging with the goals and challenge of the community. Use this video to help students begin reflecting on ways they ave been (or could be) involved with civic issues in their community.

3. Video: Global Citizenship: This video will introduce students to their roles as global citizens by encouraging them to think critically about their daily actions in a global context.

4. Video: Introduction to Cultural Issues: Understanding their own cultural identity is the first step for students to develop empathy for others from different backgrounds. use this video to encourage students to consider how their identity is affected by culture and world events.

 

Researh and Source Evaluation Strategies
1. Video: Creating a Research Plan - Information overload can be a major roadblock in the research process. This video will help students conceptualize a research pathway and consider solutions to common research challenges.

2. Video: Framing a Problem - If your students are having trouble formulating a research question for assignments, start with this video to help students begin framing a problem. Students will learn the importance of asking open-ended questions and how to approach research as a process.

3. Video: Identifying Search Strategies - Most students are familiar with search engines such as Google, but it's important they move beyond using  single search tool. In this video, students will learn how to identify familiar research tools and additional resources to use in their search process.

4. Video: Purpose and Value of Evidence - Use this video to demonstrate the importance of evidence in scholarship. Students will learn the purpose of evidence and become aware of how using evidence adds value to their work.

5. Video: Types of Resources - Help your students get started with a research assignment using this video in which students will  become familiar with resources such as databases available to them through the library. Students will also be introduced to tips for selecting the most appropriate resources for their research.

6. Video: Bias and Assumption - In order to be successful in their academic careers, students must be able to evaluate sources for objectivity.This video will introduce students to techniques for identifying and analyzing bias in sources they may encounter during their research.

 

Using Critical Thinking and Logic
1. Video: Evidenced Based Reasoning - Use this video to introduce students to the importance of supporting research conclusions with evidence. Students will also learn how to asses their research question in order to locate the appropriate supporting evidence.

2. Video: Inquiry - Use this video to introduce students to the value of using an inquiry-based mindset. Students will learn how to use inquiry to ask questions and solve problems thoughtfully and effectively.

3. Video: Importance of Logical Reasoning - Importance of Logical Reasoning - Logical reasoning is central to effective problem solving and decision making Use tis video to help students identify instances of logical and illogical reasoning they may encounter in their daily lives..

4. Video: Introduction to Analysis - The video will demonstrate o students how analyzing information about a problem and synthesizing their research findings he most effective way to reach a solution based on solid evidence.

5. Video: Why Thinking Matters - Being aware of the critical thinking process will help students develop strong decision making skills. Use this video to encourage students to develop w=awareness of their own critical thinking habits.

6. Video: Synthesis - Use this video to encourage students to practice synthesis. This video will demonstrate th value of putting together information from amy different sources to form new ideas and conclusions.

 

Visual an Quantitative Literacy
1. Video: Why Does Visual Literacy Matters - This video will introduce students to the role visual materials pay in their daily lives and the skills they will need to communicate quickly and universally using images and media.

2. Video: Interpreting Images - Interpreting visual information is a critical skill students will use beyond their academic careers. Use this video to encourage students to ask questions and consider context when interpreting visuals.

3. Video: Searching for Images - To be an effective communicator using visual information, students first need tod evelop the skills necessary for locating images.  Use this video to introduce students to strategies for locating images and get familiar with image databases or subjet-specific collections accessible through the library.

4. Video: Using Quantitative Data - Use this video to help students incorporate quantitative ata in their research and evaluate available sources for currency accuracy, authority, relevance, and objectivity.

5. Video: Evaluating Statistics - Statistics are widely used to support arguments and positions. Use this video to encourage students to think critically bout how th statistics thy encounter were crated and used to convey information.

Writing and Communication
1. Video: Why Teamwork Matters - Teamwork is essential to members of organizations when creating products, spreading ideas, and producing outcomes. Use this video to help students think about the application of teamwork in their academic and personal life.

2. Video: Academic Writing - This video will encourage students to think about their role as academic writers. Students will also learn about the importance of background research and considering multiple perspectives when joining the scholarly conversation.

3. Video: Preparing for a Presentation - In this video, students will learn how o identify presentation skills in everyday experiences, examine questions to ask before preparing presentation content, and review strategies for structuring an effective presentation.

4. Video: Understanding the Communication Need - Use this video to help students analyze the purpose of communication methods. Students will be introduced to the advantages and disadvantages of each in order to choose the vest type for a given situation.

5. Video: Written Communication - This video will walk students through the key steps of effective communication. Stuents will learn how to consider their communications' purpose, audiene, and content or topic.