Is the large, bold print a rhetorical tool to make us think more critically? ;-)
 
Andres
 
Please visit my art website at:
http://www.geocities.com/andresmuro/art.html

________________________________

From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Kearney Lykins
Sent: Fri 7/11/2008 12:06 PM
To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2264] Re: Whatdowemeanbystudentinvolvement and critical thinking?



"Critical thinking" is a new term for an old idea.  

 

Before it became disparaged by the modernists, "rhetoric" was not a bad word; it was the counterpart of dialectic and, in noble hands, was synonymous with "reason." In other words, rhetoric, defined as the ability to speak and write more effectively, also trains one to think more effectively. The best literature I could recommend on the topic comes from the rhetoricians and philosophers who explain how the ability to present a persuasive case to others makes one a better thinker (and a better person) for himself.  

 

Three classic texts to start with would be:

 

Isocrates, "Against the Sophists"

Aristotle, "The Rhetoric"

Cicero (perhaps) Ad Herennium

 

Again, the classic rhetoric I am recommending here should not be confused with the word's modern negative connotation. But mounds of wisdom have been dispensed on the topic of critical thinking, under a different name.

 

 

Kearney
 
 
 
 
 ----- Original Message ----
From: Bonnie Odiorne <bonniesophia at sbcglobal.net>
To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List <professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 1:25:16 PM
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2262] Re: Whatdo wemeanbystudentinvolvement and critical thinking?



Andrea, 

You're right. I don't think anyone has. Does anyone know of anything in the literature that comes close, except Bloom's taxonomy, which addresses levels of understanding and logical manipulation, and some say creativity, as being the highest level rather than (I think) synthesis. I think Gardner does in multiple intelligences, since he talks about the intellligences as ways of making meaning in the world. What about Brookfield? I've read some but not all of that. I certainly think critical thinking can occur in all situations, not just those one would label as linguistic or academic. In fact Quinnipiac University in CT is having a conference this fall in Writing across the disciplines and critical thinking, since writing is rarely mentioned as a factor that builds thinking, when in fact it does, or can. The keynote speaker's topic is critical thinking as poetry, and I can see the point. A certain kind of "out of the box" association of different domains to create something new, whether it's actually a poem, or a paper, or a language behavior, or surviving in the world.... Any thoughts, anyone?

Bonnie Odiorne, Post University



----- Original Message ----
From: Andrea Wilder <andreawilder at comcast.net>
To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List <professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 1:06:34 PM
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2261] Re: Whatdo wemeanbystudentinvolvement and critical thinking?

Everyone-- 

Have we defined "critical thinking?"  I've gone over most of the posts, and the authors cover a wide range of behaviors that they are calling "critical thinking."  

I, too, sometimes swallow an argument hook line and sinker.  I can get swept away by someone else's argument unless I have thought through the problem or issue very carefully--anticipating the questions or assertions from others.

Andrea

On Jul 11, 2008, at 12:16 PM, Bonnie Odiorne wrote:


	Good example, Jeff. I had a friend with dizziness and that's exactly what the high-priced tests and clinics told him to do. Your pose made me think also of those of low literacy or language ability who somehow manage to function quite well: they have become "survival-smart"--if there is such an intelligence--and taken cues from their environment to adapt their behaviors.

	Bonnie

	Post University



	----- Original Message ----
	From: Alpha Computer Training and COnsulting <alphact at eastlink.ca>
	To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List <professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov>
	Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 11:52:33 AM
	Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2259] Re: Whatdo wemeanbystudentinvolvement and critical thinking?
	
	Hi Cynthia and Philip,
	
	Good thought provoking messages.  Your comments made me think of my wife.
	She had a dizziness problem for years that she could not seem to get fixed.
	But what she did was amazing, since I think it relates to this discussion.
	She became a master at avoiding movements that brought about her dizziness.
	She unknowingly used critical thinking to avoid her problem.  This makes me
	wonder how others unknowingly use critical thinking to avoid issues in their
	lives.  This could involve reading, writing and other skills necessary to
	perform tasks.  People can unknowingly, through the own critical thinking,
	get around with their skill set and function in society.  These people have
	get critical thinking skills, that have enabled them to be successful in
	areas where we could not imagine.  People need to give themselves more
	credit for what they can do than what they can not do!  It makes me wonder
	how these skills came about.
	
	Jeff Brown
	Alpha Computer Training and Consulting
	(902)956-2600
	E-mail: info at alphacomputer.ca
	www.alphacomputer.ca <http://www.alphacomputer.ca/> 
	
	
	-----Original Message-----
	From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov
	[mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Cynthia
	Peters
	Sent: July-11-08 11:18 AM
	To: professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov
	Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2258] Re: Whatdo
	wemeanbystudentinvolvement and critical thinking?
	
	Philip -- I think what you're raising is important. Can you share any
	strategies you've used to help students feel comfortable expressing what
	they know about the world?
	
	Also, do you have any thoughts on how to do PD in a way that develops
	*teachers'* critical thinking skills. I do believe it's a skill for all
	of us to be honing all the time.
	
	Cynthia
	
	
	>>> "Anderson, Philip" <Philip.Anderson at fldoe.org> 07/10/08 5:09 PM >>>
	Good points, Andy.  I appreciate your response.  I think I should have
	said that their critical thinking skills lead them to hide what they
	know about the world - it is a strategy that has kept them safe in
	situations that they felt may pose danger. 
	
	What I think we might need to include in PD is the fact that adult ELLs,
	no matter their level, often have good critical thinking skills.  Some
	teachers may at times perceive the low level adult ELL students as
	persons who are underdeveloped in their critical thinking skills, and
	not, as you said, the same as they are, people who do have critical
	thinking skills even though they may apply them inconsistently, and who
	could perhaps benefit from thinking in new and varied ways.  
	
	
	CONTACT INFORMATION
	Philip Anderson
	Adult ESOL Program
	Florida Department of Education
	Tel (850) 245-9450
	
	
	
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	-----Original Message-----
	From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov
	[mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Andy Nash
	Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 4:16 PM
	To: professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov
	Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2253] Re: Whatdo
	wemeanbystudentinvolvement and critical thinking?
	
	Hmm, I see it more as a matter of being inconsistent in where and how we
	use those critical thinking skills. I consider myself a pretty critical
	thinker, but there are many times I'll hear someone else questioning
	something that I bought hook, line, and sinker - I didn't think at all
	critically about it. I believe that adult students are the same, which
	is why it's useful to invite critical thinking in new and varied areas. 
	Andy Nash
	
	>>> "Anderson, Philip" <Philip.Anderson at fldoe.org> 07/10/08 3:46 PM >>>
	
	What I am getting at here is that it may be important to recognize that
	adult ELLs brim with critical thinking skills, but they also have
	developed a (survival?) technique for hiding these skills from those
	they perceive to be in authority and have more "school knowledge" than
	they have.  Our professional development system may need to be sure to
	prepare teachers for working successfully with these students.  
	
	CONTACT INFORMATION
	Philip Anderson
	Adult ESOL Program
	Florida Department of Education
	Tel (850) 245-9450
	
	
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