Adventures in Critical Thinking: Learning Critical Thinking Skills
In this 8-week course students are introduced to concepts in how to develop critical thinking skills
George Elerick
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(103)
What's included
8 live meetings
7 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Each week students will be required to take an issue they choose and present a 1-2 argument on their topic of choice. The resources are NOT given by the teacher - part of the critical thinking process is for students to discover trusted sources of information.Assessment
All assessments will be done in class.Class Experience
Welcome to Critical Thinking for Middle School students. It's becoming extremely important and valuable for students to engage with topics from the stance of a critical thinker. But, many students aren't well-equipped to do so. This is a fun beginners course into what critical thinking is, how to do it and allows the students full responsibility of engaging with their own resources. The topics will be relevant to the middle school age. My experience as a current lecturer in Critical Thinking (please see Teacher Expertise) will make this course relevant and timely for your students. The point of this course is to inspire students to compile resources on their own, defend their worldview and why they chose their perspective. This process although guided, will be explicitly be up to the student to come up with a coherent argument which will be assessed in class. Each homework assignment will be for them to find sources and present a 1-2 minute argument in class each week. WEEK 1: Can peer pressure be a good thing? (An introduction to critical thinking will start the class). WEEK 2: Is Barbie a good role model for gender expectations? WEEK 3: Are we all responsible to care for the homeless? WEEK 4: Should there be an age-limit to watch certain movies? WEEK 5: Do kids have a responsibility to care for the climate? WEEK 6: Should social media have age limits? WEEK 7: Should middle school students care how adults make decisions about technology? WEEK 8: Students choose a topic of their own to present (they will let the teacher know before Week 8) . -------------- CLASS SCHEDULE: 5 -10 min: Weekly Intro & Opening Game 15-20: Topical Discussion 25: Students share their researched perspectives 5 min: Recap TEACHING STYLE: I am an engaging and tactile teacher. I believe learning should be exciting, interactive and fun. I do have direct experience teaching critical thinking skills. 4 out of my 10 years have been teaching critical thinking skills to middle school and high school students. This class will NOT be engaging with sensitive topics.
Learning Goals
To have students achieve the skills and confidence in how to critically think through important issues.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
All content will be age appropriate.
THERE WILL BE NO: sexual, political or sensitive content explored.
Supply List
There will be no external resources given. All resources are the responsibility of the student and only the student.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
No resources other than the students personal views will be used. We will discuss what critical thinking is in Class 1 and why it is important and give students an example of how to present arguments and their findings. Their responsibility is to find relevant resources to back up their arguments.
BIBLIOGRAPHY for Introductory class:
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Rebecca Stobaugh
Assessing Critical Thinking in Middle and High Schools: Meeting the Common Core
1st Edition
ISBN-13: 978-1596672338, ISBN-10: 1596672331
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Part of the process of critical thinking is for the student to find and vet their own resources - this will be part of their in-class assignment and assessment. We will talk about how to do this in WEEK 1, where we explore whether or not peer pressure can be viewed as beneficial - which will be the initial example of how to assess resources. Again, the Teacher will not be responsible to give these resources to students.
Joined April, 2020
4.9
103reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have am a teacher with over 10 years of international experience of teaching in British and American Schools with Middle School and High School students. I have taught in all major areas of core curriculum, inclusive of elective curriculum.
4 of my 10 years of teaching have been focused around teaching in critical thinking to middle school and high school students.
I am also a lecturer at the Global Center for Advanced Studies in the areas of Critical Thinking. This experience make me highly qualified to teach this course in Critical Theory. I am an author in Critical Theory, Postmodernism and Pop culture. I have references in the area of Critical Thinking should they be requested. Reviews
Live Group Class
$160
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
55 min
Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-15
3-6 learners per class
