Summary of Open Meeting on the
CRITICAL THINKING GOAL
November 6, 2003

Team Members Present: Debra Lynch, Janice Chernekoff, Kevin McCloskey, Gary Brey, Randy Schaeffer, Paul Sable, Robert Flatley, Kim Johnston

Unable to Attend: Linda Goldberg, William Mowder, Brian Wlazelek, Rolf Mayrhofer

1. Welcome

  • On behalf of the committee, Dr. Lynch welcomed approximately 37 faculty members. The floor was opened to any comments regarding the Mission Statement drafted during the spring 2003 college meetings. No comments were offered.

2. Discussion of Critical Thinking Goal

  • Dialogue from faculty:
    • Put solving problems in first sentence.
    • Consider creative nature of problem solving.
    • Abstract thinking – poor choice, needs to be placed in context.
    • Why not just enjoy thinking?
    • What did the committee mean by inquiry across disciplines?
    • More integration of disciplinary hoped for.
    • What follows to demonstrate critical thinking? Set of courses? (asked to hold for implementation piece).
    • Need foundation before you can engage in interdisciplinary study. Too much too soon without foundation.
    • No aesthetic thinking.
    • Critical thinking is a move to active, integrative thinking. It is an attitude to "open thinking". This could be emphasized more.
    • Foundation issue important before model of interdisciplinary courses can be implemented.
    • Many students come here with high school background and can do inter-disciplinary work.
    • Not all high schools are the same, and background is not uniform.
    • Change Critical Thinking to Critical Engagement.
    • This is written as deductive thinking; another aspect that is not mentioned.
    • Is abstract, logically a dichotomy? What is meant? Should more words be presented?
    • Are we ready for implementation yet?
    • Should we clarify abstract as well as logically?
    • Think rigorously and creatively instead of abstractly and logically.
    • Critical involves using instruments to think.
    • Do not lose logically.
    • Didn’t great thinking no occur because people thought "out of Box?" Need more words.
    • Concerned about "be able to" – use "exposed" instead?

3. Implementation

  • Dialogue from Faculty
    • Do you see Gen. Ed. exclusive of multidisciplinary courses? Doesn’t this discount course that already do critical thinking?
    • Not done with all interdisciplinary thinking.
    • Never talked exclusivity. Just part of mix of interdisciplinary courses.
    • Who would make decision about cross listing of curriculum. Broad goals not to exclude disciplines.
    • Hope structure is not all prescriptive.
    • Hoped for "out of box" thinking.
    • Capstone courses proposed? Some done after so many courses in major completed?
    • Upper division courses planned.
    • Sequence of courses very important. Certain courses and pre-requisites change critical thinking as outcome ( decision making).
    • Committee is looking at capstone. Looking at threads with common themes. Look at web site for examples.
    • Understand thread, but build case for unencumbered general education. Not an advantage to take courses out of discipline, must take courses out of discipline.
    • We are trying to unencumbered with a sense of coherence.
    • Coherence implies encumbered.
    • How do you match check sheet to goals? Will goal replace present categories of Humanities, etc.?
    • Want to make a case for prescription.
    • Treat critical thinking like Eng. Comp. Put basic skills into courses; establish center for critical thinking.
    • Can teach symbolic systems; involve content and they cannot do. It must be in discipline.
    • Not sure we all know what we mean; need to define disciplines; need to articulate criterion of our disciplines for critical thinking.

4. Closing

  • Dr. Lynch thanked the faculty for their comments on critical thinking. The next goal to be discussed will be Communication.

5. Other

  • Below are the scheduled meetings for the faculty to share their thoughts with the committee. All meetings will be held in SUB 183 at 11:00.
    • Thursday, November 13 – Communication Goal
    • Tuesday, November 18 – Human Diversity Goal
    • Thursday, November 20 – Ethical Issues & Responsibilities Goal
    • Thursday, December 4 – Attitudes for Success Goal