Greetings to Tomorrows Principals

1
Greetings to Tomorrows Principals!

• Welcome to a cutting edge approach made available
  to you through the University of Akron that will
  enable you to earn your principals certificate
  from the convenience of your living room!

2
Participants in this program must be willing to

• take risks by expressing opinions and explaining
  rationale
• Articulate thoughts
• make ethically and legally sound judgments and/or
  determinations
• complete all assignments by due dates
• use keyboard to express your thoughts

3
By the completion of this program you will be be
able to

• positively impact the future of thousands of
  children
• influence the careers of faculty and staff
  members
• make sound financial decisions
• plan a safe facility adapting to the needs of the
  students

4
Essential to being a successful principal is the
ability to demonstrate critical thinking.
5
If someone is thinking critically and there is
no proof of his thoughts, is he considered a
critical thinker?
6

• You might ask HOW is it possible to demonstrate
  the skills necessary to be a critical thinker in
  an online environment?

7
First lets explore critical thinking, shall we?
8
The purpose of critical thinking is

• to achieve understanding, evaluate viewpoints and
  solve problems. Since all three areas involve
  the asking of questions, we can say that critical
  thinking is the questioning or inquiries we
  engage in when we seek to understand, evaluate or
  resolve.
• Victor P. Maioranea

9
Critical Thinking is the ability to be in control
of ones thinking. It includes the ability to
consciously examine the elements of ones
reasoning, or that of another, and evaluate that
reasoning against universal intellectual
standards - clarity, accuracy, precision,
relevance, depth, breadth, and logic. It also
involves the structured examination of sources of
information.Roy Eichhorn, AMSC, VA
10
Critical thinking is defined as disciplined,
self-directed thinking displaying a mastery of
intellectual skills and abilities - thinking
about your thinking while youre thinking to make
your thinking better.
11
A Critical Thinker

• Asks pertinent questions and looks for proof
• Assesses statements and arguments
• Is able to clearly define a set of criteria for
  analyzing ideas

12
A Critical Thinker also

• Listens carefully to others and is able to give
  feedback
• Looks for evidence to support assumptions and
  beliefs
• Is able to reject information that is incorrect
  or irrelevant
• Is willing to examine beliefs, assumptions and
  opinions and weigh them against facts

13
Components of Critical Thinking

• Good, practical reasoning
• Reflective judgment
• Critical evaluation and analysis
• Asking intelligent questions
• Assessing evidence and ethical implications
• Attitude of skepticism
• Metacognition

14
How to Critically Analyze a Case Online

• Part I
• Secure all facts relevant to the case
• Ensure that data is relevant to a situation
• Identify the patterns of practice you observed in
  the case study

15
How to Critically Analyze a Case Online

• Part II
• Identify the assumptions you have underlying your
  interpretation of the problems
• Identify what other information you would need to
  understand the data or case and state where you
  would get such information
• List all factors you would consider before you
  discuss your observations about the situation
  with your assistant superintendent or supervisor

16
How to Critically Analyze a Case Online

• Part III
• Having explained your understanding of the
  situation, identify three key challenges you
  foresee and the data-based rationale for each
• Identify the interpersonal skills you personally
  need to plan for implementation.
• Anticipate the potential consequences there are
  to your actions (both positive and negative)

17
Speaking of the online environment, can you think
of how this environment might compare to a
classroom situation?
18
Face to Face vs. Online Environment

• Activities take place in classroom
• Specific class time
• Students are passive receptacles
• Professor in total control, provider of content
  and answers

• Discussion -Interaction ongoing, promotes student
  reflection.
• Active learning - better use of time
• Problem Solving - Information Sharing - Immediate
  feedback
• Work is permanently archived
• Collaborative Work - sense of equality and
  freedom
• Different times - choice of locations

19
Are there challenges to working online? You
betcha!
20
You may find that

• a lack of gestural and nonverbal cues may lead to
  misunderstandings.
• certain students dominate discussions.
• some students are only lurking- passively
  observing without participating.
• there can be technical difficulties.

21
In summary

• 1. Critical thinking skills need to be
  transferable across different contexts.
• 2. Critical thinking skills need to be developed
  within a system of student-centered learning
• 3. Critical thinking requires interaction and
  critical engagement with others.
• 4. It requires a willingness to participate in
  collaboration and reasoning in a written online
  forum.

22
Simply put one might sayCritical Thinking
Reasoning
23
(No Transcript)
24
The process of thinking about our thinking
challenges thoughts. Some questions to ask ...
I was intrigued by your answer (quote it). Can
you explain why you feel so? Did particular
experiences, research, or other evidence lead you
to this opinion? OR... OK, then answer me this
... OR... I claim the opposite. Can you prove
me wrong? OR.. But what if ... OR... Suppose
just the opposite were true. What then?
Best Practice