By: Carol McLaughlin on September 6, 2013
I remember sitting at my desk in fourth grade dutifully coping my geography text. Perhaps my teacher was a kinestic learner that transferred her learning approach into her classroom teaching or perhaps we were just doing busy work to keep a room full of active ten year olds quiet. Whatever the pedagogy behind her assignment…
By: Richard Volzke on September 6, 2013
Everyone’s thoughts can be biased based on their experiences, cultural exposure, and education. Because of this, our world outlook can be skewed unless we train and exercise ourselves to think in a critical manner. I always thought that critical thinking was a natural, ingrained trait, as it seems that some people “just get it”. They…
By: Julie Dodge on September 6, 2013
A student of mine posted a meme on Facebook last week. A three sentence statement that compared two vastly different political and economic events to American immigration. She asked, “Is this for real?” I responded by stating that as the post was worded it was misleading and perhaps inaccurate. I did not say that it…
By: Stefania Tarasut on September 6, 2013
Overall this tiny booklet was refreshing. If I had a highlighter handy I would have highlighted most of the book. The way we think can either move us forward or hold us back. Our way of thinking determines how we solve our problems, how we relate to people and how we live our lives. We…
By: Michael Badriaki on September 5, 2013
I found this week’s reading rather refreshing and timely, because the material was relevant to the nature of conversations and discussions that came to bear. One might wonder as to how a petite pamphlet titled; “The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools”would yield the above appraisal. During the past couple of weeks, a…
By: Mitch Arbelaez on September 5, 2013
Can you count how many times you have encountered a person who, for one reason or another, has the belief, or thinks a certain way, that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. As you listen to them spout off what they think to be truth you realize that there is no logical reasoning to what they…
By: rhbaker275 on September 5, 2013
I am not a critical thinker, at least, according to the definition given by Paul and Elder in their book “The Miniature Guide to Critical thinking: Concepts and Tools (loc.32, Kindle ed). The authors state, “Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.” The book is chock-full…
By: Miriam Mendez on September 5, 2013
As I read “The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools,” I was reminded of a statement made by a young woman in my faith community, “Pastor, I never knew there were other versions.” She was talking about other versions of the Bible. How could this young woman, who has been in the…
By: Liz Linssen on September 5, 2013
Perfectly academic? (video) (Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
By: Liz Linssen on September 5, 2013
Critical Thinking is a real gem of information, a vast wealth of knowledge to the new student, given its small size. For me one of the most profound statements the authors Elder and Paul make, almost unnoticeable given its location on the last line at the very last page, is: If we want critical societies…
By: Bill Dobrenen on September 5, 2013
For as long as I have been a Christian, there has always been a wrestling match going on between faith and reason. As a young believer, doubt was looked at with suspicion, even with disdain and shame. I remember hearing sermon after sermon that put “carnal” labels on thinking, reasoning, and questioning. I know; I…
By: Ashley Goad on September 5, 2013
Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools had three major pluses: (1) It was concise, at only 20 pages; (2) It was filled with lists, charts and diagrams; and (3) It provided questions to ponder and examples to apply. Elder and Paul essentially offer a guide on how to have an intellectual conversation and…
By: Deve Persad on September 4, 2013
In this concise and challenging book, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools, Paul and Elder have exposed the heart of my personal leadership journey. The capacity to think critically is a continual battle that must intentionally take place in each conversation and each decision that is made. The sobering realization is that…
By: Andy Campbell on August 22, 2013
Existing LGP students, LGP alumni, and followers, please help me welcome LGP4!! Over the next day or two, they will be leaving a comment on this post as they test out Disqus… help them get acclimated, would you? Leave them a little love below!