Critical Thinking

My Struggles With Anti-Intellectualism

Paul Stoller | Posted 05.08.2012

Read More: Philosophy, Critical Thinking, Education, College, Pragmatism, Anti-Intellectualism, Anthropology, Elitism, Higher Education, College News
Paul Stoller

"Can do" pragmatism was the fuel of America prosperity. But that pragmatism was reinforced with an abiding respect for knowledge and critical thinking. It's hard to do anything in a place devoid of new ideas, a place where dreamers are discouraged from dreaming.

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Education Reform: Why a Bachelor's Degree Still Matters

Peter Smirniotopoulos | Posted 04.02.2012

Read More: Creativity, Higher Education Reform, Critical Thinking, Sir Ken Robinson, College, Michael Bloomberg, Economy, Economic Crisis, Washington DC, Richard Florida, Economic Recovery, Education Reform, Higher Education, Los Angeles, New York City, Universities, Global Economy, Competitiveness, Global Competitiveness, Bachelor's Degree, Education News
Peter Smirniotopoulos

It would be truly unfortunate if twenty years from now we woke up to the realization that U.S. prominence in the world's economy had dropped even farther from where it stood today, because we made the mistake of shortchanging our educational systems.

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We Need an Education System that Promotes Creativity, Innovation, and Critical Thinking

Peter Smirniotopoulos | Posted 05.23.2012

Read More: Steve Jobs, Creativity, Jeff Bezos, Economy, Microsoft, Bill Gates, Innovation, Amazon Kindle, Divergent-Thinking, Amazon, Education, Critical Thinking, Apple, Sir Ken Robinson, Economic Recovery, Education Reform, Public Education, Education News
Peter Smirniotopoulos

Let's not wait another 50 years to reform the primary and secondary education systems in this country, because we can't afford not to. Let's start now.

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Go Positive!

Michael Roth | Posted 04.02.2012

Read More: Critical Thinking, Wesleyan Media Project, Presidential Debates, Republican Primaries, Michael S. Roth, Negative Attacks, memory_trauma_and_history, College News
Michael Roth

I'm embarrassed to say that one of the key places where candidates and citizens acquire a taste for -- and skills in -- negativity is higher education. For decades now, we have promoted a culture of criticism in which you show how smart you are by tearing apart somebody else's ideas.

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Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Richard Steinberg | Posted 03.20.2012

Read More: College Preparation, Standardized Testing, Math and Science Education, Critical Thinking, Education News
Richard Steinberg

My students will go to college having succeeded in a school system that emphasized high-stakes, low-level tests. They will not be prepared to think critically in college. Those that succeed will do so despite their education, not because of it.

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Deeper Learning: Engaging Students Across the Humanities

Tom Vander Ark | Posted 01.22.2012

Read More: Education Technology, Critical Thinking, Humanities, Education News
Tom Vander Ark

Personalized math products are becoming more common in classrooms from kindergarten to college. These tools are really promising for building math sk...

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The Death of Citizenship

Steve Nelson | Posted 10.24.2011

Read More: Critical Thinking, Education, Vouchers, Charter Schools, Scientific Method, Privatization, Propaganda, Curriculum, Media, Journalism, Rick Perry, Education News
Steve Nelson

Combine the decline of critical capacity with the explosion of information in the digital age and you have the seeds of a society where truth is whatever one chooses to believe.

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3 Ideas to Prevent Killing Creativity, Curiosity, and Critical Thinking in Kids

Todd Kashdan | Posted 07.16.2011

Read More: Creativity, Critical Thinking, Education, Children, Play, Standardized Testing, Schools, Campbell's Law, Education News
Todd Kashdan

If we want kids to experience a sense of wonder and discover new information, generate novel ideas, and derive their own conclusions after a discussion, then the current educational system is a failure.

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Defining 'Deeper Thought' In American Schools

Peter Meyer | Posted 07.14.2011

Read More: Common Core Standards, Curriculum, Common Core State Standards Initiative, In the Basement of the Ivory Tower, Critical Thinking, Education Reform, The War Against Excellence, Thomas Jefferson, Education, Ccssi, Education News
Peter Meyer

If we're serious about winning the future or teaching children critical thinking skills or how to think deeply, we better get them a comprehensive, rigorous, and content specific curriculum.

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It's a Matter of Mindset: Ten Principles for Unleashing Critical Thinking

Christine M. Riordan | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Change, Fostering Creativity, Critical Thinking, Global Economy, University of Denver, Innovation, Colorado, Daniels College of Business, Management, Denver News
Christine M. Riordan

The business world is changing at an astonishing and complex pace. Companies need critical thinking skills to not only thrive but also survive in this environment.

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Reading As An Equalizer: What James Joyce, Shakespeare Can Teach Us Today

Rick Ayers | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Declan Kiberd, Democracy, Critical Thinking, James Joyce, Education, Marilyn Monroe, Toni Morrison, Literacy, Chaucer, Ulysses, Miguel De Cervantes, Classics, Mark Twain, Reading, Shakespeare, Education News
Rick Ayers

Kiberd reminds us to hold on to, and honor, the truly democratic project that education must be.

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Shaping Public Policy: The Anchor Problem

Terry Newell | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Politics, Critical Thinking, Debate, Politics News
Terry Newell

Consider this question. You are in the market for a new hybrid vehicle. Several of your friends have had one for years and love theirs. When you as...

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A Public School Teacher Shops Around for a Private School

Heather Wolpert-Gawron | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Class Size, Critical Thinking, Applications, Tuition, Budget Cuts, Public School, Parent Advocate, Private School, Education News
Heather Wolpert-Gawron

I gave her a few pieces of advice, which I now pass on to you if you are entertaining the private sector for your student. It is, after all, that time of year when applications are due.

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The Right Questions

Terry Newell | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Politics, Critical Thinking, Questions, Arizona Shooting, Politics News
Terry Newell

As a nation of tinkerers, we often lack the patience to get the questions right, consumed as we are with doing something, anything when faced with a problem.

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Prediction: 2011 to Become the "Year of the Wine Consumer"

Tim Hanni | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Consumer, Critical Thinking, Industry, Trendspotting, Marketing, Trends, Wine, Prediction, Business, Hanni, 2011, Healthy Living News
Tim Hanni

I love the adage, "If I ask you what time it is don't tell me how the watch works." And I confess that I am as guilty as any wine expert for launching...

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2011: Time for a New Clear Vision

Randall Amster | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Critical Thinking, Positive Thinking, Constructive, Optimism, Good News, New Year, 2011, Peace, Collective Values, New Year's Resolutions, Politics, Media News, Vision, Healthy Living News
Randall Amster

For the coming year, rather than short-term resolutions, I'm issuing an ongoing challenge that is at once both personal and political. Despite much ev...

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Do Schools Allow Thinking?

Eric Maisel, Ph.D. | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Public Schools, Education Reform, Critical Thinking, Teaching Methods, Education, Education News
Eric Maisel, Ph.D.

Since every educator pays at least lip service to the idea that critical thinking is an admirable educational goal, it should be possible to nudge at least some schools and some school districts in the direction of revising the school day to include, in addition to subject matter, some genuine thinking.

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Adding Thinking to the School Day

Eric Maisel, Ph.D. | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: School Reform, Critical Thinking, Education, Thinking, Education Reform, Learning, Education News
Eric Maisel, Ph.D.

I have a simple, doable suggestion to make with regard to radically reimagining the education of children. Let's let our children actually think for 45 minutes a day.

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Critical Thinking Roundup - Howard Rheingold, Bing at ISTE

Betsy Aoki | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Internet Literacy, Critical Thinking, Education, Bing, Internet-Literacy-Critical-Thinking, Microsoft, Technology News
Betsy Aoki

Earlier in the year, I put a stake in the ground about Bing's stance vis-à-vis Critical Thinking. Simply put, we are in favor of Internet literacy ...

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Educating for Democracy: How Much Cheating Is Going on in the Public Schools?

Joel Shatzky | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: High-Stakes Testing, Critical Thinking, Cheating on Tests, Charter Schools, New York News
Joel Shatzky

Test prep drilling "cheats" young learners of the education they need in order to be well informed and active citizens of our society.

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Wing-Nut Tea

Susan L. Travis | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Politics of Fear, Fearmongering, Fear, Lying, Republican, Community, Republican Party, Integrity, Republicans, Systems-Thinking, Ignorance, Stupidity, Tea Party Protests, Teabaggers, Tea Parties, Disinformation, Tea Party Movement, Critical Thinking, Tea Baggers, Education Reform, Tea Party, Tea, Responsibility, Msm Immaturity, Corporations, Negative Attacks, Politics News
Susan L. Travis

These are interesting and difficult times for all Americans, though the predicament of our Republican brothers and sisters bears special reflection.

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What Underlies Reactions When Islam Is Insulted?

Terry Kelhawk | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Koran, Blasphemy Laws, Islam, Death Threats, Mohammed, Pakistan, Threats, Father Zakaria, Sunni, The West, Sharia Law, Culture, Shiites, Comedy and Satire, Political Cartoon, Doubt, Hadith, Prophet Mohammed, Comedy Central, Sin, Shiite, Muslims, Blasphemy, Socrates, Cartoon, Muslim, Hadiths, Sunnis, Political Cartoons, Sharia, Egypt, Women's Rights, Women's Issues, Prejudice, Muslim Prejudice, Critical Thinking, Middle East, Sexism, Understanding, Christian Prejudice, Sexuality, Double Standard, Lust, Sex, Copts, World News
Terry Kelhawk

In the West, we believe that when someone moves a disagreement from the issue to a personal attack, it is because their case is weak. But can we make that assumption with other cultures?

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The Media's Role in Combating Unilateral Points of View

Magda Abu-Fadil | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue, Blogosphere, Rima Fakih, Miss USA 2010, Sinn Fein, Arab-American, Unesco, Multi-Media, United States, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Brazil, Shiite, Social Media, Critical Thinking, Cnn, Muslim, Rio De Janeiro, Gerry Adams, 3rd United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum, Copacabana, Irish, Lebanese, Ira, Media News
Magda Abu-Fadil

The following summarizes the author's comments at a round table this week to launch UNESCO's World Report "Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercu...

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Why Can't Tiffany Write?

Joseph Smigelski | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Education, Critical Thinking, Harlan Ellison, Writing, Education Reform, Public Education, College News
Joseph Smigelski

We have a real problem with education in this nation of ours, and it goes far beyond the prohibition to write more or less than five paragraphs in your essay.

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Critical Thinking Is Essential in Every College Class

Joseph Smigelski | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Jews, Critical Thinking, Nazis, Freshman Composition, College, Writing Classes, Holocaust, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Howard Reich, Ptsd, College News
Joseph Smigelski

All of the classes I teach at the two community colleges where I am employed are writing classes. I try to make my courses more than just a series of how-to sessions about comma placement -- I inject the concept of critical thinking.

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