1. Academic Strategies Unit 8 Professor Deidra Powell-Williams

2. Seminar Agenda  Introductions  Critical Thinking  Problem Solving Logic Logic Scientific method Scientific method  Case of Caroline  Questions and Comments

3. Introductions Please state your name and geographical location this evening.

4. Key Concepts Improving your overall thinking skills requires the ability to think critically and make appropriate decisions.Improving your overall thinking skills requires the ability to think critically and make appropriate decisions. Critical thinking involves the use of logic and the ability to differentiate between fact and opinion.Critical thinking involves the use of logic and the ability to differentiate between fact and opinion. Applying problem solving and decision making strategies in the context of the Scientific Method can help you find effective solutions to your personal, educational, or professional problems.Applying problem solving and decision making strategies in the context of the Scientific Method can help you find effective solutions to your personal, educational, or professional problems.

5. Critical Thinking  Please explain in your own words what critical thinking means to you?

6. Critical Thinking  Critical thinking is one aspect of thought. When you think critically, you are evaluating all the information you have available, deciding what is true or not true, and making your own decisions about what you believe.

7. More on Critical Thinking  In order to think critically, you must have the ability to use logic and reason. You must also be able to evaluate whether the information you receive is based on fact or opinion.

8. Critical Thinking Please explain how it relates to your college experience?

9. Critical Thinking 1. Please explain how important is critical thinking? Why?

10. Critical Thinking 2. How do you use critical thinking in every day life? Provide specific examples.

11. Critical Thinking 3. Please explain, is it possible to be overly critical?

12. Problem Solving Problems are most often determined by an individual's perspective. What might be a problem for one person may not be a problem for another.

13. Problem Solving All problems include a purpose (what you want to accomplish), a situation (where, when, and how), a consequence (what will happen if the problem is not resolved), and a solution (the answer to the problem).

14. Problem Solving How does it relate to your college experience?

15. Problem Solving  Why is it important to weigh the pros and cons of a decision? Justify your response.

16. DECISION TREES  Helps you to choose between several courses of action.  Provides a highly effective structure within which you can explore options, and investigate the possible outcomes of choosing those options.  Helps you to form a balanced picture of the risks and rewards associated with each possible course of action.

17. DECISION TREES  How can it help you with making decisions about a problem in your future career?

18. DECISION TREES  Clearly lays out problem so that all options can be challenged.  Allows analyzing the possible consequences of a decision fully.  Provides a framework to quantify the values of outcomes and the probabilities of achieving them.  Helps to make the best decisions on the basis of existing information and best guesses.

19. DECISION TREES  Give an example of how you would use the decision tree when solving a problem in your career.  Give an example of how you would use the decision tree when solving a problem in your career.

20. 5 WHYS  Simple problem-solving technique that helps users to get to the root of the problem quickly  Helps to quickly determine the root cause of a problem  Easy to learn and apply

21. 5 WHYS  Strategy involves looking at any problem and asking: "Why?” and What caused this problem?  Very often, the answer to the first "why" will prompt another "why" and the answer to the second "why" will prompt another and so on; hence the name the 5 Whys strategy.

22. 5 WHYS  Simple technique that can help you quickly get to the root of a problem  The more complex things get, the more likely it is to lead you down a false trail  If it doesn't quickly give you an answer that's obviously right, then you may need more sophisticated technique problem solving

23. Six Steps for Scientific Method 1. Physical observation using the senses 2. Analyze your observation or form a hypothesis to determine its effectiveness 3. Form suggestions to improve the process. 4. Make predictions 5. Conduct a test 6. Implement a process

24. CASE STUDY OF CAROLINE  Caroline works as a Human Services Professional for the County. As a Human Services Professional, she helps create efficient procedures and has identified an important challenge for her department.  Caroline works as a Human Services Professional for the County. As a Human Services Professional, she helps create efficient procedures and has identified an important challenge for her department.

25. CASE STUDY OF CAROLINE  The department budget was cut and there are less workers but more work. She is afraid that she may not be able to keep up with the demand of the position.

26. CASE STUDY OF CAROLINE  Caroline has always been interested in problem solving and loves puzzles, games, and other tactile activities.

27. CASE STUDY OF CAROLINE  Caroline has said she does not consider herself a critical thinker, but when pressed she could not define critical thinking clearly.

28. CASE STUDY OF CAROLINE Considering Caroline's skills and experience, is she a critical thinker?

29. CASE STUDY OF CAROLINE How can Caroline better understand what critical thinking means?

30. HOMEWORK FOR UNIT 8  Complete the reading  Complete the learning activities  Complete the learning activities  Participate in discussion  Complete the quiz

31. Questions and Comments  Are there any questions or comments before the end of seminar?

32. Final Words Thank you! And have a good evening.