Producing Intellectual Labor In The Classroom: The Utilization Of A Critical Thinking Model To Help Students Take Command Of Their Thinking

Abstract

A review of the literature reveals that although the teaching of critical thinking skills is a significant aim of post-secondary pedagogy, much ambiguity exists regarding the topic.  In fact, due to the lack of faculty familiarity with the concept compounded by student   resistance to put forth the intellectual labor to take charge of their own thinking, matriculates are mainly exposed to didactic instruction that does not prepare them with real-world problem solving skills.  This manuscript addresses these problems in the following way. First, it outlines a foundational conception of critical thinking as articulated by the Foundation for Critical Thinking.  In doing so, it comments on the importance of student-centered instruction as key to fostering critical thinking skills and dispositions in the classroom.  Second, it canvasses an example of what critical thinking instruction and learning can look like.