1. The QEP and Me
QEP Update
August 16, 2007

2. 1. What is a QEP. 2. What is the topic of our QEP. 3
1. What is a QEP? 2. What is the topic of our QEP? 3. (Fill in the blanks for the title of our QEP) Seeking the ____: Developing ________ Thinkers at _______

3. Q: Quality E: Enhancement P: Plan

4. Our QEP Topic: Critical Thinking
Our Title: Seeking the Ox: Developing Critical Thinkers at LFCC

5. How did we get here? Summer, 2006: Topic selection
Fall, 2007: Research team meetings, literature review, discussions
January 2007: Presentation of definition, purposes, and three broad strategies
April 2007: Draft ready for review
Summer 2007: Revisions

6. We demonstrate critical thinking when we…
Explain, analyze and synthesize what we see, hear and read
Use creativity to discover multiple and diverse approaches to issues
Find relevant information to address tasks and problems
Evaluate claims and evidence to draw reasonable conclusions
Justify conclusions and solutions
Apply concepts to real-world problems
See connections and patterns both within disciplines and across disciplines
Reflect on our own thinking and learning.

7. Three Broad Strategies
Professional Development
Curricular Enhancement
Activities Outside the Classroom

8. Coming Events Workshops:
Dr. Barry Stein, Tennessee Technical University
Full-time Faculty, 8/16, 1:15
Adjunct Faculty, 8/16, 7:30

9. Coming Events QEP Days Critical Thinking Open House Events
Everyone urged to wear the QEP t-shirt
QEP themed activities on all campuses
Brown bag discussions
Critical Thinking Open House Events
What kinds of thinking are required for success throughout the college?

10. Coming Events SACS/COC on-site visit (October)
QEP evaluator will be a part of the on-site team
Critical Thinking Focus Groups (career and industry)
QEP/critical thinking webpage

11. Coming Events
Pilot program: critical thinking assessment at college entry
Program development: SDV 100 critical thinking module
Course assessment: measuring the critical thinking learning outcome for designated courses

12. 10 Commandments KNOW the CT SLO for your course(s)
IDENTIFY and SCHEDULE assignments that support that SLO with practice and feedback
ASSESS the critical thinking SLO
SHARE experiences, successes, struggles, tips, techniques, questions, and insights with faculty, staff, and administrators.

13. 10 Commandments, continued
5. Wear the QEP t-shirt on designated QEP days
6. Watch for examples of critical thought on campus
7. Participate in a QEP discussion group during the semester
8. Ask: “Am I thinking critically?”

14. 10 Commandments, continued
9. Ask a QEP team member or Ramon Selove to explain the ox pictures.
10. Keep up the good work.

15. Resources
Critical Thinking In Our Classes (sample assignments from LFCC faculty)
The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools (excellent overview of CT with questions)
Seeking The Ox: Developing Critical Thinkers at LFCC (QEP – with literature review)

16. The Ox-Herder Pictures
The seeker begins by recognizing that he or she is lacking. Knowing that we don’t know is an important step towards better thinking…

17. The quest to think more critically is a struggle…

18. There are obvious benefits when our thinking and knowing WORK for us…

19. ASK RAMON SELOVE
Eventually, a seeker (or thinker, in our case) goes back into the world to share what he has learned and to make a difference.

20. Questions?
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please forward them to Miriam Moore