Welcome! Academic Strategies Unit 4 Seminar

General Questions & Weekly News  Please share your weekly news… General questions?

Weekly Reminders & Announcements  Announcements  Grade Check  Other options for late work  Discussion Board Tips

Unit 4 Assignments  Complete the Unit 4 Reading Reading: Critical Thinking  Review the Unit 4 Research Information Internet Research  Attend the Unit 4 Discussion  Complete the Unit 4 Assignment

Unit 4 Research & Evaluation Assignment  Select the Unit 4 tab on your Course Menu and then select the Assignment icon and pull up the assignment template.  Follow all guidelines listed on the Unit 4 template.  Recommendation: Search for topics related to business.  Carefully proofread your work and make necessary revisions! Submit your completed template to the Dropbox.

Unit 4 Website Evaluation  TIP: Make sure to carefully review the 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation information, which is located at the end of the Unit 4 Internet Research reading.  The 5 W’s information will help you to determine the suitability of online resources by asking you to look closely at 5 items.

5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation  1.Authority (who):  2.Accuracy (where):  3.Objectivity (what):  4. Currency (when):  5.Coverage (why): Let’s practice……………

Web Field Trip  Select the Unit 4 tab in our classroom, select the Research icon and then pull up the online version of the Internet Research reading.  Scroll to p.6 Excellent Academic Resources  Select Google Scholar -  Type in business forecasting  Select New Developments in Business Forecasting  Apply the 5 Ws as you evaluate this online source.

Questions?

Critical Thinking  What is it?  Why should it matter to me?  How can I apply it in my own life?  Will it help me in my Kaplan courses?  How can I improve my critical thinking?

Attributes of a Critical Thinker Source: Strategies for Success: Critical Thinking Ferrett, S. Peak Performance (1997).  asks pertinent questions  assesses statements and arguments  is able to admit a lack of understanding or information  has a sense of curiosity  is interested in finding new solutions  is able to clearly define a set of criteria for analyzing ideas  is willing to examine beliefs, assumptions, and opinions and weigh them against facts  listens carefully to others and is able to give feedback  sees that critical thinking is a lifelong process of self- assessment  suspends judgment until all facts have been gathered and considered  looks for evidence to support assumption and beliefs  is able to adjust opinions when new facts are found  looks for proof  examines problems closely  is able to reject information that is incorrect or irrelevant

 Critical thinking is really an ongoing process of understanding, questioning, observing, analyzing, and making judgments.  Why do YOU think these skills will be important for you—here at Kaplan and in other areas of your life as well?

Four Steps to Improve Your Thinking Step 1: Clarify your points Step 2: Stick to the point Step 3: Question Questions Step 4: Be Reasonable

The Case of Mark  Mark has always wanted a career in marketing, and after being out of school for a few years, is happy to be back learning great things. Now in his second term, he really likes his coursework and is getting good grades.  He thinks, though, that his next term might be too hard for him because friends said the next set of courses will be “more advanced.” Mark guesses that he might need a tutor but doesn’t feel he knows any marketing professionals to turn to for help. Generally, Mark doesn’t panic, but he is getting worried and as this fear overwhelms him, his current quarter grades are starting to slip.

Assumption: “Taking the information for granted, supposing it’s just the way it is supposed to be. Example: We can assume that since Bob was hired as a computer expert, he will know the answers to our questions. This may or may not be true.” Source: Unit 4 Reading: Critical Thinking

 Based on the information you have in the case study, what assumptions does Mark make and on what does Mark base his assumptions?  Why do you think it might not be such a good idea to base decisions on assumptions?

 How might Mark use some of these critical thinking skills (understanding, questioning, observing, analyzing, and making judgments) to make a better decision for himself in this case?  In other words, instead of panicking, what could he do?

Think… Think… Think…  THINK of critical thinking as a way to EXPAND your thinking--actively thinking, rather than passively going through the motions; being open-minded, rather than closed-minded; ready to question, rather than simply allowing information to stand on its own merit; exploring and testing, rather than accepting and digesting.

 If I fill a cup up with just enough water (enough so that it does not overflow), what happens to the cup?

 If I fill a balloon up with just enough water (enough so that it does not burst the balloon), what happens?

Active vs. Passive  Cup = Passive It just sits there and does what it needs to do. No real activity; it takes things in and does its job.  Balloon = Active The balloon changes, grows and EXPANDS! A great deal of activity takes place.

As a student, which way do YOU want to be? Cup-like or balloon-like?

Passive Thinking  What do you think of when I talk about passive thinking? Offer us some examples of your own.

Passive Thinking  Acts/thoughts that are automatic reactions or almost habit to us would involve passive thinking! Nothing needs to be analyzed or tested.  There are times when a little passive thinking is just what we need. Cup = passive, but it serves a definite purpose!  Some of our passive thinking originally started out as active thinking, but over time, we no longer needed to question or evaluate the decision or action anymore.

Active Thinking  What do YOU think it means to be an active thinker? What do active thinkers do?

Active Thinking  Thinking, questioning, deciding, evaluating--this kind of thinking is like the balloon--it EXPANDS our minds?  Being an active thinker, then, means that you are taking an active role in the thinking process. You are analyzing, speaking up, taking a risk in voicing your opinion, testing, questioning, searching, staying open to other ways of looking at the concept—even opposing views.

YOUR Definition of Critical Thinking  In light of what we have said about passive and active thinking here, how would YOU define critical thinking at this point?

Another Definition…  “Critical thinking is the discipline of rigorously and skillfully using information, experience, observation and reasoning to guide your decisions, actions and beliefs.” Source: “Critical Thinking: Developing Skills for Successful Thinking”

 How important is critical thinking? Does it have a place here in our seminars, in our course discussions or elsewhere in your lives? Explain your thoughts.

The ART of taking charge…  "We could define it [critical thinking] as the art of taking charge of your own mind. Its value is also at root simple: if we can take charge of our own minds, we can take charge of our lives; we can improve them, bringing them under our self-command and direction. Of course, this requires that we learn self- discipline and the art of self-examination…“ Source: “Our Concept of Critical Thinking”

 You can actually use aspects of critical thinking to have greater CONFIDENCE in your own decisions and opinions.

Confidence & CT  It's like building a house. If you build a firm foundation and do the framing right (test it out and double-check it), you know the structure will stand for a long, long time.  The same goes for your thinking. If you think things through logically and carefully, maybe test and double-check your thinking, your decisions will be sound and you will gain greater confidence in yourself.

Thanks for attending…

Final Questions?