Seeking the Ox: Developing Critical Thinkers at LFCC

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Seeking the Ox Developing Critical Thinkers at
LFCC

• A Quality Enhancement Plan

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Our Purpose
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• The purpose of our QEP is to create a culture of
  critical thinking which permeates all aspects of
  the College community, so that student critical
  thinking skills improve.

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Why?
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• In 2005, LFCC benchmark scores were lower than
  those of VCCS counterparts for questions on the
  CCSSE related to critical thinking. In addition,
  in 2006, LFCC students scored below VCCS peers
  for critical thinking on the CCTST.

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How?
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• Three Broad Goals
• Foster awareness and understanding of critical
  thinking (CT) among College employees in all
  disciplines and units
• Enhance critical thinking skills in all courses
  and programs
• Encourage critical thinking practice outside the
  classroom

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Initiatives Goal 1
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• Workshops and seminars
• Print and electronic resources for faculty,
  staff, and administrators
• Mini-grant program

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Initiatives Goal 2
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• Critical Thinking (CT) component in SDV 100
• CT student learning outcomes (from the VCCS
  general education outcomes) for ALL courses

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Initiatives Goal 3
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• Employee-driven action plans improving critical
  thinking in every unit
• Workforce Initiative/career connections
  employer roundtables, career fairs, employer
  satisfaction surveys
• Student activities student contests and critical
  thinking themed events
• Enhanced advising promoting critical thought
  through the advising process

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How did we get here?
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• Spring 2006 Topic Team selected
• Spring 2006 Topic Team solicits topic ideas
• Summer 2006 College community votes on topics
• August 2006 Research Team formed critical
  thinking selected as topic
• Fall 2006 Preliminary research and discussions
• December 2006 Draft of definition, purpose, and
  goals circulated for comment and review
• January-April, 2007 Plan development
• May, 2007 Complete draft circulated for review
• June-August, 2007 Revisions and work with QEP
  consultant
• September, 2007 Final draft submitted to SACS-COC

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Who leads the QEP?
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The QEP Interim Leadership Team Faculty Miriam
Moore, Joe Whitehorne, Ramon Selove, Mary Anne
Keefer, Ann Currie Deans Brenda Byard, Nancy
Penney, K.W. Wotring Administrators John
Sygielski (ex officio), Margaret Bartow, Linnie
Carter, David Urso, Jeanian Clark Staff John
Osae-Kwapong, Linda Harper, Richard Farrow,
Brandy Hawkins
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Where does the QEP fit in?
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Where does the QEP fit in?

• The QEP team will coordinate communication
  efforts through the Office of College
  Advancement.
• The QEP team will coordinate spending and
  budgeting issues through the Office of Financial
  and Administrative Services.
• The Director of Planning and Institutional
  Effectiveness will assist us with data analysis
  and WEAVE on-line.

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How much?
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• 2007-8 49,750
• 2008-9 43,775
• 2009-10 42,080
• 2010-11 54,905
• 2011-12 62,110
• 2012-13 69,450
• Total 322,070

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Outcomes and measures
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• Improved VCCS core competency scores (CCTST)
  gains of 2,4, and 6 percent, or matching VCCS
  peers
• Improved scores on targeted CCSSE questions and
  benchmarks 2 in 2008 and 10 in 2011, or
  matching VCCS and national peers
• On-going improvement in Course Assessments, with
  baselines determined in 2007-2009
• On-going improvement in graduate and
  non-returning student surveys, to be piloted in
  2008
• On-going improvement in Employer Satisfaction
  surveys, to be piloted in 2008-2009
• Increasing success rates in mini-grant projects,
  as determined by pre-post student testing

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We seek knowledge
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We see what we seek
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We catch the ox
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We tame the ox
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We ride the ox home
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We focus on other things
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So what?
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• When we think, whatever else were doing, were
  constructing a future.
• (IBM Website)

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Lord Fairfax Community College Your Future. Our
Focus.