Resources

One page Teaching Tactic: teaching critical thinking skills by interpreting real-life ethical issues.

A well-organized collection of assessment rubrics for critical thinking and problem-solving. These include instructor assessments and self-assessments. Also valuable for fostering faculty discussion of critical thinking.

A multi-part exposition of constructivism, with special attention to the roles and practices of the teacher and learner in a constructivist classroom.

Distinguishes critical thinking and critical pedagogy in educational research. Traces critical pedagogy from the work of Paulo Freire and Henry Giroux. Offers an alternative that focuses on the practice of criticality. Originally published in Critical Theories in Education, Thomas S. Popkewitz and Lynn Fendler, eds. (New York: Routledge, 1999).

This essay is a revised version of the "Introduction" to Critical Literacy in Action, edited by Ira Shor and Caroline Pari (1999). Discusses and defines critical literacy and links to critical pedagogy.

Chronicle of Higher Education article. Discusses critical thinking and the necessity of pushing past skepticism to consider the importance of values.

Five things that can make a big difference to help students read your texts with facility and intellectual engagement.

An essential lifelong skill for students is to think about their learning, or be metacognitive about it. Karen M. Kortz, Ph.D., shares three activities that help students practice this important skill.

From Indiana University: Discussion is important to learning in all disciplines because it helps students process information rather than simply receive it. Includes: Preparing for Discussions; Problematize the Topic; Select a Discussion Format; Choose a Method to Assign Students to Groups; Choose a Debriefing Method; Problems with Discussion; Strategies for Building Discussion throughout a Class Session

One page Teaching Tactic to help students engage course readings.