1. Assessing Critical Thinking and Effective Communication across the General Education Curriculum: Best Practices and Next Steps AAC&U Conference New Orleans, February 24, 2012 Scott Van Bramer, Janine Utell, Karen Rose Widener University Assessing Critical Thinking and Effective Communication across the General Education Curriculum: Best Practices and Next Steps at AAC&U General Education and Assessment: New Contexts, New Cultures, February 2012. S.E. Van Bramer, svanbram@science.widener.edu ; J.M. Utell, jmutell@widener.edu; K.C. Rose, kcrose@widener.edusvanbram@science.widener.edujmutell@widener.edu

2. Introduction – 10 min Scott Van Bramer – Chemistry Janine Utell – English Karen Rose – Psychology Assessing Critical Thinking and Effective Communication across the General Education Curriculum: Best Practices and Next Steps at AAC&U General Education and Assessment: New Contexts, New Cultures, February 2012. S.E. Van Bramer, svanbram@science.widener.edu ; J.M. Utell, jmutell@widener.edu; K.C. Rose, kcrose@widener.edusvanbram@science.widener.edujmutell@widener.edu

3. Developing Criteria – 20 min Critical thinking definitions – handout Determine criteria Identify evidence of critical thinking Develop common expectations Apply to student papers Assessing Critical Thinking and Effective Communication across the General Education Curriculum: Best Practices and Next Steps at AAC&U General Education and Assessment: New Contexts, New Cultures, February 2012. S.E. Van Bramer, svanbram@science.widener.edu ; J.M. Utell, jmutell@widener.edu; K.C. Rose, kcrose@widener.edusvanbram@science.widener.edujmutell@widener.edu

4. Using Your Criteria Criteria – what did you look for Assessment findings - how did they do Recommendations – to improve outcomes Process review – was this useful Plan for return – what will you do next Assessing Critical Thinking and Effective Communication across the General Education Curriculum: Best Practices and Next Steps at AAC&U General Education and Assessment: New Contexts, New Cultures, February 2012. S.E. Van Bramer, svanbram@science.widener.edu ; J.M. Utell, jmutell@widener.edu; K.C. Rose, kcrose@widener.edusvanbram@science.widener.edujmutell@widener.edu

5. Using Criteria – 30 min Read paper #1 and assess – 10 min Read paper #2 and assess – 5 min Discuss 2 papers with partner – 10 min Discuss 4 papers with team – 5 min Assessing Critical Thinking and Effective Communication across the General Education Curriculum: Best Practices and Next Steps at AAC&U General Education and Assessment: New Contexts, New Cultures, February 2012. S.E. Van Bramer, svanbram@science.widener.edu ; J.M. Utell, jmutell@widener.edu; K.C. Rose, kcrose@widener.edusvanbram@science.widener.edujmutell@widener.edu

6. Reporting out – 20 min Criteria – what did you look for Assessment findings - how did they do Recommendations – to improve outcomes Process review – was this useful Plan for return – what will you do next Assessing Critical Thinking and Effective Communication across the General Education Curriculum: Best Practices and Next Steps at AAC&U General Education and Assessment: New Contexts, New Cultures, February 2012. S.E. Van Bramer, svanbram@science.widener.edu ; J.M. Utell, jmutell@widener.edu; K.C. Rose, kcrose@widener.edusvanbram@science.widener.edujmutell@widener.edu

7. Your Take Home Message Assessing Critical Thinking and Effective Communication across the General Education Curriculum: Best Practices and Next Steps at AAC&U General Education and Assessment: New Contexts, New Cultures, February 2012. S.E. Van Bramer, svanbram@science.widener.edu ; J.M. Utell, jmutell@widener.edu; K.C. Rose, kcrose@widener.edusvanbram@science.widener.edujmutell@widener.edu

8. Our Take Home Message Definition Consensus Context-driven Criteria Cross-disciplinary Definition-driven Use the criteria Reflect Assessment process Student outcomes Assessing Critical Thinking and Effective Communication across the General Education Curriculum: Best Practices and Next Steps at AAC&U General Education and Assessment: New Contexts, New Cultures, February 2012. S.E. Van Bramer, svanbram@science.widener.edu ; J.M. Utell, jmutell@widener.edu; K.C. Rose, kcrose@widener.edusvanbram@science.widener.edujmutell@widener.edu