After listening to audio #5, which focus on the scientific method, I find this to be very useful in doing a research paper in whatever subject area. I believe that the learning objectives must take into consideration a phenomenon that the students seek to investigate about a particular topic/subject area then launch an extensive investigation. In this process the learner will identify the problem, make a prediction, gather data, review the hypothesis which is the prediction made in advance before results are established or reached. After the hypothesis review then a conclusion will be drawn from the problem that the learner seek to investigate. This aspect is a very important aspect of helping students to develop critical thinking skills. 

I have found listening to audio 5, to be the most fulfilling audio I have listened, because I felt like it was specifically speak to me. I have taught a lesson on the Scientific Method and it was not as engaging as the example depicted in this audio. I did some reflection and took some notes and most definitely will be trying Ms Brown's approach when I go and teach my students about plants this semester.

Audio 6: There are some good points outlined, as well as examples of how to use informal assessment. It can be difficult to incorporate informal assessment in the class when you are required to produce recorded grades on a monthly basis. These type of assessment takes time, which I like doing because it can really help to develop the students interest in the subject area/content, when they can become intimate with the material and not just route learning. Another issue with informal assessment that many administration have, is it validity. What is more important having the students recalling what they know on a test paper, of having them completing a task where they have to use their knowledge to explain, create, design and present their information.

Its a new school term/semester for everyone, lets all endeavor to incorporate all that we have learned from audios 1-6 especially. Let us remind ourselves that it is essential that we as teachers/lecturers should make sure we facilitate the learning process by allowing students to be active participant in their learning process. Learning about the Socratic seminar, academic conversation skills, project based Learning, service Learning and the scientific method was very informative and very refreshing for me to take on the challenge of 2018 and beyond. Its important that the learners become critical thinkers and we the educators use the Benjamin Blooms Taxonomy and focus on the higher order level. My subject area in the Secondary setting is Visual Arts and although this program obviously doesn't give practical examples on how to use critical thinking in that subject area. I have to learn from listening to the audios and use examples and manipulate it to suit my subject area. As a part time lecturer at the tertiary level its essential that my learners be active participants in the learning process therefore I usually give collaborative activities for each member to think and express their views after they research a concept etc. Now understanding how to impart the knowledge of how to teach my learners to think it will be easier for me in this new semester to create learning activities that will enable my learners to be better critical thinkers.

Thank you Kareen for your response. I am also very greatful to Mico and Mr. Weathers to give me the opportunity  to be exposed to this program. I have been refreshed and have also learnt some methods about Critical Thinking. I will be using these methods in my classroom to help and advance teaching learning.

I really enjoyed listening to these audios, I especially enjoyed learning about the  term Socratic Seminar as this is one activity that I believe can be used even with early childhood students. This is where the children are placed in small groups and the children help each other to understand the ideas and issue through a group discussion format. The teacher can begin the conversation for the children at this age and then allow them to generate their own ideas. This is a good way to get the children to think critically.

I have completed all 7 audios as well as the toolkit. I highly recommend this course to all educators at every level.. thoroughly enjoyed it.  very interesting course. Glad i did it.  

i really appreciate being a part of the critical thinking course.  This has also been helping me to be a critical thinker.

"I feel confident using critical questions to promote higher levels of thinking"

I realized that I have been using the Scientific Method  when students are doing their School Based Assessment in Office Procedures, however, it was never incorporated in my lesson planning.

The five steps Scientific Method are:

1.   Identify a Problem

2.   Hypothesize

3.   Gather Data

4.   Examine Findings

5.   Form Conclusion

When students hypothesize critical thinking is encouraged. 

I will now use the scientific method when planning the lesson. 

Wow! It was quite a journey, but I truly enjoy every bit of it. From collaborative methodologies , theocratic seminar ,Academic conversation skills,Project base learning and service learning. Indeed these audios both refresh and remotivate me to continue on this teaching journey. Surely I will continue to use the ones I was using and incorporate the others that seem challenging.  A big thank you to the team ,from Mico and ITEN for making me apart of this edifying brief course. 

Four Methodologies of Collaborative Learning

1.  Socratic Seminar

2.  Academic Conversation Skills

3.  Project Based Learning

4.  Service Learning.

What a journey!  And I still travelling.  I am wondering if I am doing the right thing.  There seems to be a pre-quiz and a post-quiz for each methodology.  Should we do both or should we skip the pre and do the post?

The questions are all interesting, however, and its a great idea to do everything.

Hi I am really thankful to be apart of this course. I have competed all the audios part successfully. where do I post the lesson plan...if I wrote it already. 

I am sooo happy to complete the audio section...and finally see my certificate...I just love this course...I have always been told i am giving the children too much information when teaching small children to think outside the box...but I am glad I do...I had sooo many reflections while completing the audios..I really felt proud of developing small minds into critical thinkers. thank you.

What a journey it was.  Yes Ms Samms I was looking for more questions I could not believe that was the end, just as you said.

I received my certificate and am happy that I continued.  

Through the course I realized I  have been having Socratic Seminars daily with my 4 year olds... and never taught of it in  this  format... now I can build on and extent it in other learning areas.

This course has help me to reflect and reorganized my thought process on who I need to more aware of  collaborative teaching in my class. I have a group of vibrant, enthusiastic  and happy set of children who are excited about learning. Academic Conversation Skills and Socratic Seminar I used a lot in my class. Now I can be more precise when planning and implementing my activities.  

After listening each it was like a light bulb and i excited about teaching and writing my lesson plans. critical thinking will help the students to develop better judgement.    

A course like this is so important. I'm excited to help my students become critical thinkers who can make good decisions in class and in their lives in general. 

I endorse the term" Knowledge is power"  yes it is power when you can use it. Critical thinking had been around for decades, but embarking on this course has causes me to think, assess and reflect on my presentation in the classroom.

The thing that stood out the most in my mind is:

Blooms Taxonomy.

• Remembering This refers to concrete information straight from the story.
• Understanding: Students ability to grasp understanding from concept and can explain it in their own words.
• Applying: Students will  use what they have learnt and applying it in a concrete way through dramatizing, sequencing and problem solving.
• Analyzing: This will allow students to make comparison between two things.
• Evaluating :This will allow students to judge activities or lessons openly.
• Creating: This idea is for student to make something.

I think many teachers who are knowledgeable of Bloom's Taxonomy and use the higher levels in their lesson planning have been using critical thinking in the classroom without being aware of it. 

Lorene I am very glad to know that you endured and found the toolkit interesting. I can't say it enough, it's a great course I have learnt so many many things. Grateful for the course.

Why is critical thinking important for our students?

I am now of a better understanding as to why critical thinking is important for our students. Critical thinking is important for our students, as it enables them to exceed the restrictions of having to utilize automatic responses to answering questions. Critical thinking gives students the opportunity to analyze a situation, by implementing creative and independent thinking, as well as careful reasoning in order to provide a solution or response to a suggested problem or questions.

I must say i found all the information very much important , all the episodes were highlights as how we as teacher can interact with our students , and help the to better able to become critical thinkers. the highlight of Blooms Taxonomy was a huge plus as that method is an excellent way to better develop lesson to reach all the different kind of learners that we have to reach on a daily basis. This course has also teach me how to develop and better able my critical thinking skills and have he doing  a lot of reflection. the time was never wasted as i have put pen to paper to and be more creative in teaching and learning .    

I must say after taking the time out to listen to the audios, I now have a newly found appreciation for critical thinking and what it adds to the teaching and learning process. For a while now I have know that student needed to be challenged and required to think outside of the box and I now know exactly how to do so.

Can we encourage our other participants in the critical thinking programme of this community to make postings as well?

It is great to see the different perspectives.

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze reason and interpret information based on evidence. It is important to teach critical thinking to our students as it gives them the skills needed in all aspect of life.

I have helped my students to think critically by scaffolding them in discovering information than tell them the answers. This can be done by

1. Asking follow up questions that cause students to think before responding and give detailed information.
2. Allow students to share experiences.
3. Create real life situations so that they will associate and make connection.

this course has been an interesting one i realize that i do use bloom's taxonomy in writing the objectives for my lesson plan and without even giving it too much though i allow my children to develop critical thinking skills with the questions i ask during the delivery of my lessons.

After listening to the audios I realized that we used critical thinking  everyday and not realizing we are creating a generation of critical thinkers. So a big thank you to Mico and the team for creating  programmes that bring out the thinker in us.

The Toolkit exercises were manageable and easily comprehend.

Embarking on this course, I thought it would be wearisome, but it is to the point and gives clear directions as I listened to audios. I have gained so much information and it has revolutionize my thought process.

I join in commending the audio sessions that were really provided by ITEN/OAS; The Mico being a facililitating/collaborating arm for this part of the critical thinking for teachers system; … http://www.oas.org/en/iten/audio.asp

 I think that it is a great programme that is applicable both in the  classroom setting and the real world. This means of reaching teachers/ learners through using audio is relevant, useful and of a high quality. Has anyone done his/her learning style inventory as yet? What is your preferred learning style?

I agree with you Prof. Briscoe. The audio programme is really effective in helping our teachers to model critical thinking for our students, and help them to become such thinkers. An excellent programme indeed.

 Before this program I would have my students derive formula instead of giving it to them. I would do so by asking them probing questions and scaffold them into getting to the answer. 

 After listening to audios I have learnt other ways in which i can get students to think on their own. Some methods I have learnt are:

• Socratic 
• Problem Based Learning
• Service based
• academic conversations

 I am also more appreciative of making my learning objectives S.M.A.R.T. I am grateful to be apart of such an informative and effective program. I plan to incorporate all I have learnt in action in my lessons. 

My views on the toolkit. At the beginning of the session, it was challenging; however by the time I proceed it became manageable. It was an interesting exercise, it was easy to comprehend. 

I would recommend this course to all teachers, it gives insight and foresight. Thank God we are on the last lap.

I find that it is much more easier to add critical thinking questions in my lesson plans...I am now practicing beforehand so as to develop mastery when asking the children questions...my children are kindergarteners, so they do take time to make connections with their real life experiences with what we are discussing at hand...for my personal development, I need to now create more time and patient so as to enable my children to express themselves more...but most time...TIME is against me...HELP!

Good evening. I share your sentiments Angela Morant, this should be a compulsory course for teachers in the teachers' colleges. I have been rethinking the way I ask questions and focusing on the objectives of the lesson to ensure that I have the students thinking and drawing on their own experiences. I also find that some who were deemed less assertive are now opening up and are very responsive in class, especially the comprehension classes. 

Already I have finished Critical thinking and problem solving training. I am a school ambassador of British Council and trainer of International School Award Program on Connecting Classrooms .

 I am only weeks into my teacher training and the program has opened my understanding of the facilitation process as i was so lost. I have been listening to some of the lessons more than once. My challenge however is not having someone to examine my objectives as i try to write some during the exercises. The benefits are innumerable.

I have come to the end of an informative and engaging journey. There were so many benefits from this programme for me and my students. On behalf of my students I must say thank you to Mr. Weathers for his patience and guidance, as well as the entire team. Job well done.

1. I am so very greatful for this wonderful program. I have  learnt a lot.  I must say thanks to Mr.Weathers for helping to facilitate and guiding me,throughout this program.Thanks also to the group with special mention to Mr. Baker. With God all things are possible.

To God be the glory great things he hath done. I have learnt a lot from the course. Thank you ITEN. I also want to thank Mr. Weathers for facilitating and guiding me through out. Special thanks to the group members.

I am so greatful for this opportunity to be apart of this refreshing Critical Thinking Course. The quiz was quite a reinforcement for the Course that was done. I totally enjoy answering the 16 questions. Looking for b to step two with MOOC

*looking forward to*

This program is really a refreshing one.  The benefits are endless. It kept my mind active and has changed my approach to writing lesson plans.  let us continue to engage our students  so that they can become critical thinkers. I also want to thank Miss Briscoe for her constant encouragement throughout this course. 

It was my first semester as a trainee teacher and i was so lost. The program started at the right time. However assignments and deadlines placed it on the back burner. Since i have been forced to complete it, I realise how much more it could have helped. Our facilitator really tried but out of ignorance, i didn't know the value. Thanks to my colleague Ms B.