1. Critical Thinking Across the Language Curriculum Cynthia Kieffer University of Oregon American English Institute ckieffer@uoregon.edu

2. Introduction Homework anyone? Topic I: Overview Activity I: Textbook Analysis, A Topic 2: Bloom’s Taxonomy Activity 2: Textbook Analysis, B Wrap Up, Q & A

3. Topic One: Rationale for Teaching Critical Thinking In the past, we memorized facts. Today’s global world requires that a person learn and make sense of new information through … -- multiple sources -- analysis -- synthesis -- evaluation

4. Topic One: Critical Thinking is…. Reflective and reasonable thinking. Providing and requesting evidence. Determining authenticity, accuracy, and worth of information or claims. A frame of mind plus a number of mental operations (processes).

5. Topic One: The research shows that CT skills… Are needed in today’s world Can be taught Can be infused into curriculum and need not be taught as separate skills.

6. Topic One: Cognitive Research, Bloom’s Taxonomy Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluation

7. Activity One, Textbook Analysis “Speed up to the World Outside” Intermediate level, Unit 1, Reading, page 12: Miguel Angel Corzo (mini-biography) Sample fact-finding questions: -- Where did he study and work? -- Read the text. How many time expressions can you find?

8. Activity One: Bloom’s Question Cues, 1-2 Knowledge: define, list, tell, describe, label Comprehension: explain, give examples, differentiate TASK: In groups, create knowledge and comprehension questions for a biographical figure (Miguel Angel Corzo or other).

9. Activity One: Debrief Name of biographical figure Age of the students Question type (knowledge or comprehension) Question or activity Keep your biographical figures and questions. We will build on them in Activity Two.

10. Topic Two: Bloom’s Question Cues, 3-6 Application: calculate, illustrate, classify Analysis: compare, contrast, infer Synthesis: substitute, what if?, reconstruct, design, invent Evaluation: measure, recommend, convince, judge, defend, decide

11. Activity Two TASK: Now go back to the biographical figure (Miguel Angel Corzo or other), and create additional questions or activities to elicit critical thinking in these categories.

12. Topic Two: Bloom’s Question Cues, 3-6 Application: calculate, illustrate, classify Analysis: compare, contrast, infer Synthesis: substitute, what if?, reconstruct, design, invent Evaluation: measure, recommend, convince, judge, defend, decide

13. Activity Two, Debrief Name of biographical figure Age of the students Question type (application, analysis, synthesis, or evaluation) Question or activity

14. Wrap Up: Teaching Implications Analyze and adapt materials. Develop activities that elicit higher order CT skills. Include appropriate assessment (teach and test at comparable CT levels). English + CT = meaningful communication across the curriculum.

15. Next Steps Critical Thinking, Part II February: “Establishing and Maintaining a Climate in the Classroom for Critical Thinking Skills.” See web site readings, especially --Taxonomy of Socratic Question --Strategy List: 35 Dimensions

16. Critical Thinking Across the Language Curriculum Cynthia Kieffer University of Oregon American English Institute ckieffer@uoregon.edu