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Spring 2010 Workshops on Critical Thinking

Foundation for Critical Thinking

Foundation for Critical Thinking
P.O. BOX 220
Dillon Beach, CA. 94929

Tollfree: 800.833.3645
Fax: 707.878.9111
cct@criticalthinking.org

February 1, 2010
Spring 2010 Workshops in Critical Thinking!
 Reminder to Register for Early-Bird Registration Rates
Please join us March 20-21, 2010

Early-Bird Registration Rates for the Spring 2010 Workshop Series
15% Off Registration
from Now until February 19th!

Click Here to Register Online

Early-Bird Registrants will also receive a free copy of the "How to Teach" Video Series on DVD.
( $169 retail value)


CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SESSIONS:
  • Placing a Robust Framework for Critical Thinking At the Heart Of Your Institution’s Mission, Accreditation or Reaccreditation Process…
    Linda Elder
     
  • Approaching Students as Thinkers; Cultivating the Intellect…
    Enoch Hale
  • Integrating a Comprehensive Understanding of Critical Thinking into Effective Design for Teaching and Learning Academic Content… Richard Paul


The Foundation for Critical Thinking is celebrating 30 years of working toward essential change in
education and society through the cultivation of fairminded critical thinking.

 



Spring Mailing

Foundation for Critical Thinking

Foundation for Critical Thinking
P.O. BOX 220
Dillon Beach, CA. 94929

Tollfree: 800.833.3645
Fax: 707.878.9111
cct@criticalthinking.org

Announcing:
2009 Spring Workshops in Critical Thinking

February 27 - March 1, 2009
Berkeley DoubleTree Marina, Berkeley, California

Click Here for the printable brochure (Acrobat PDF format)

Critical thinking concepts and tools are the essential core of all well-conceived instruction. They define the ultimate goals of education. Taking ownership of these goals is the crucial first step in educational reform. The second step consists in contextualizing the goals. This entails creating strategies for bringing critical thinking into the teaching of every subject. Thus follows the design of the Spring 2009 workshops.

The first workshop day will focus on taking ownership of the core concepts and tools that define critical thinking as an intellectual and personal set of understandings (with an advanced foundations session for returning participants). Days two and three will target strategies for bringing these core concepts into the logic of subjects, disciplines and domains of human thought. 

All participants will attend a foundational workshop on the first day, followed by the workshop strand of their choice on the second and third days.

Day One (choose one):
  Days Two and Three  (choose one):



News For immediate Release

Foundation for Critical Thinking

Foundation for Critical Thinking

P.O. BOX 220
Dillon Beach, CA. 94929
  800.833.3645
Fax: 707.878.9111
cct@criticalthinking.org

www.criticalthinking.org

March 11, 2009
Dear Critical Thinking Enthusiast:

Today is a good day for critical thinking. You may have read in today’s paper that President Obama is calling for critical thinking in our schools. The president urged states to develop standards "that don't simply measure whether students can fill in a bubble on a test but whether they possess 21st century skills like problem-solving and critical thinking, entrepreneurship and creativity."

In connection with this, note that the Christian Science Monitor has just published an editorial written by me in which I am calling for critical thinking in order to create fairminded critical societies. Here is what this editorial says…
Quality thought is vital. So why don’t schools foster it? - Christian Science Monitor - Boston, MA.

"How can we hope to thoughtfully address the economic issues, conflicts, world poverty, and many other pressing concerns that trouble our planet, if we don't take the way we think seriously?

We can't. To effectively deal with these issues, we must cultivate the spirit of critical thinking throughout human societies

Right now we are not even teaching the skills and dispositions of the critical mind in our schools. We are not cultivating the intellect.

Everyone thinks; but we don't always think well. In fact, much of our thinking, left to itself, is sloppy, distorted, partial, uninformed, or prejudiced. Yet the quality of our life and all of the decisions we make depend precisely on the quality of our thought. At present, the act of thinking is virtually ignored..."
Read the Full Article
We hope this activity focused on critical thinking will lead to further discussions of how to bring critical thinking into education, and all aspects of society. But as you know, the work is only beginning. We don’t want critical thinking to be used as a buzzword, as it was back in the 80’s and early 90’s. We need to see the depth in it, and the long-term nature of change in human thought. We need to see that the human mind, left to itself, simply cannot be trusted to reason fairly, and to reason well. The tools of critical thinking give us definite ways into our thinking, to examine it, to assess, to see where it needs be reworked.

Dr. Linda ElderHere are some ways you can further your understanding of critical thinking, and spread the word about it:
  • Attend our upcoming International Conference on Critical Thinking.
  • Partner with us to seek grant funding for education professional development in critical thinking. Contact Dr. Enoch Hale at hale@criticalthinking.org
  • Read the 25 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living (and suggest it to a friend). This book is a great place to begin to internalize the concepts in critical thinking.
  • Check out the Thinker’s Guide Library and go deeper into critical thinking…Learn ways to apply it in your classrooms and in your life.
  • Establish a critical thinking society – a small group of like-minded people who can meet with you every week to read about and discuss critical thinking. Together you can deepen your understanding of critical thinking concepts and principles, and discuss how to apply it in your classrooms and your life.
  • Make sure that a robust substantive conception of critical thinking is at the heart of your institution's mission statement and your accreditation or reaccreditation process.
President Obama has called for critical thinking. We must go beyond rhetoric if we are ever to create critical societies.



2009 Conference Announcement

Foundation for Critical Thinking

Foundation for Critical Thinking
P.O. BOX 220
Dillon Beach, CA. 94929

Tollfree: 800.833.3645
Fax: 707.878.9111
cct@criticalthinking.org
CONFERENCE MENU
Join us for The World's Oldest Annual Conference on Critical Thinking

Conference Theme:
Fostering Intellectual Discipline

July 20-23, 2009
Preconference:  July 18-19

at the DoubleTree Hotel and Executive
Meeting Center,  Berkeley Marina, California

The Center and Foundation for Critical Thinking have together hosted critical thinking academies and conferences for more than a quarter century. During that time, we have played a key role in defining, structuring, assessing, improving and advancing the principles and best practices of fair-minded critical thought in education and in society. We invite you to join us for the 29th International Conference on Critical Thinking. Our annual conference provides a unique opportunity for you to improve your understanding of critical thinking, as well as your ability to more substantively foster it in the classroom and in all aspects of your work and life.

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

CLICK TO REGISTER ONLINE

Click to download the printable 2009 Conference Flyer (2.3MB Acrobat PDF File)


There is no more important goal in teaching than fostering intellectual discipline.  Intellectually disciplined students:

  • persevere through difficulties in problems and issues (rather than giving up when learning becomes “painful” or difficult).
  • routinely empathize with the thinking of others (especially the thinking of those with whom they disagree).
  • take ownership of content through actively thinking it through.
  • develop confidence in their ability to figure things out for themselves.
  • understand the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and desires.
  • articulate complex questions in multiple ways before dealing with them (to clarify them).
  • use intellectual tools routinely in every class to take ownership of the content.
  • read, write, listen, and speak critically.
  • locate  ultimate intellectual  authority in evidence and reasoning, rather than in authority figures or “authoritative” beliefs or texts.

Intellectual discipline is essential to the educated mind.  However, we do not foster it at the expense of the emotional life of students.  Rather we help students take command of their emotions, feelings and desires through the use of reason. We want students to experience the joy of learning, which they can do best when they take command of their learning and the development of their own intellect. We want them to understand the intimate relationships that exist between their feelings, emotions and desires. We want them to develop emotional intelligence, so that they learn to deal with their feelings and desires in productive and successful ways. We want them to become passionate about learning, and to learn the skills necessary for honestly confronting the day to day problems inherent in learning at a deep level.

Throughout our work we emphasize and argue for the importance of teaching for critical thinking in a strong, rather than a weak, sense. We are committed to a clear and "substantive" concept of critical thinking (rather than one that is ill-defined); a concept that interfaces well with the disciplines, that integrates critical with creative thinking, that applies directly to the needs of everyday and professional life, that emphasizes the affective as well as the cognitive dimension of critical thinking, that highlights intellectual standards and traits. We advocate a concept of critical thinking that organizes instruction in every subject area at every educational level.

For a more in-depth look at the conference theme, visit the conference theme page.

The conference will consist of approximately 30 conference sessions offered over 4 days. Participants will choose in advance the sessions offered on days one and two, day three - afternoon, and day four - morning. At the conference, participants will choose from a number of concurrent sessions offered on the third morning of the conference. We invite both new and returning participants to join us for the preconference, to be held July 20 - 23, 2009.
DOUBLETREE HOTEL & EXECUTIVE MEETING CENTER — BERKELEY MARINA 

Near the University of California at Berkeley:
30 minutes from San Francisco Airport.
15 minutes from Oakland Airport

 

For additional hotel information Click Here

 Meeting room at the Berkeley Marina
 

 



Oxford Mailing

Foundation for Critical Thinking

Foundation for Critical Thinking
The 2nd International Academy on Critical Thinking		 P.O. BOX 220
Dillon Beach, CA. 94929

Tollfree: 800.833.3645
Fax: 707.878.9111
cct@criticalthinking.org

Join us for...

The Oxford Tutorial & Critical Thinking Academy
New College, The University of Oxford, England
September 3-6, 2008

The Center and Foundation for Critical Thinking have together hosted critical thinking academies and conferences for more than a quarter century. We will bring our second academy to the UK September 3-6, 2008. The International Academy on Critical Thinking is designed for collegiate and pre-collegiate educators, lead faculty, teachers, headmasters, and academic administrators. Among the Oxford educators invited to present include David Palfreyman, David Mills and Ted Tapper. These educators will join Gerald Nosich, Richard Paul, Linda Elder, and Rush Cosgrove,  fellows from the Foundation for Critical Thinking. 

The Academy will concentrate on both theoretical issues and practical strategies for the design of instruction. The Academy will explicate the nature of the Oxford Tutorial as it relates to critical thinking, and the nature of critical thinking as it relates to the Tutorial.   The Academy is designed to help delegates better employ critical thinking to achieve a deep understanding of content.

Registration and Accommodations:
Visit www.criticalthinking.org for more information about the Oxford Academy or for online registration by check, credit card or purchase order.  You may choose either to stay at New College, or to attend as a day delegate. 


©2008 Foundation for Critical Thinking - www.criticalthinking.org
P.O. BOX 220 - Dillon Beach, CA. 94929
Toll Free: 800.833.3645 - Fax: 707.878.9111  


Files available for download  »
  • Oxford 1.29.07.csv
    •

    Foundation for Critical Thinking

    Foundation for Critical Thinking

    		P.O. BOX 220
    Dillon Beach, CA. 94929

    Tollfree: 800.833.3645
    Fax: 707.878.9111
    cct@criticalthinking.org

    The International Critical Thinking Basic Concepts & Understanding Online Test 

    Assessing the initial understanding of basic critical thinking concepts and principles.

    The International Critical Thinking Basic Concepts and Understandings Test, developed by leading international authorities on critical thinking, Dr. Linda Elder and Dr. Richard Paul, along with Foundation for Critical Thinking Research Fellow Rush Cosgrove, is the first comprehensive and foundational critical thinking concepts and principles test to be developed and offered for educational use. It is based on the substantive approach to critical thinking developed by Paul and his colleagues at the Foundation for Critical Thinking during the last quarter century. It is the only critical thinking test that approaches critical thinking as a transdisciplinary system of interconnected concepts, principles, and understandings. It focuses on the five essential dimensions of critical thinking:
    1. the analysis of thought
    2. the assessment of thought
    3. the dispositions of thought
    4. the skills and abilities of thought
    5. the obstacles or barriers to critical thought
    The Critical Thinking Basic Concepts Test can assist faculty in determining the extent to which that they are succeeding (or not succeeding) in helping students develop the understandings which will enable them to think critically — through content and through problems and issues they will face in their lives.

    Now Available for use in your class or institution!

    For more information on this test, see our website www.criticalthinking.org/test.  Volume licenses may be purchase online. Click here for information on licensing this test.

    For questions about design and usage of this test, contact….

    Dr. Linda Elder
    President
    Foundation for Critical Thinking
    707.878.9100
    www.criticalthinking.org


    ©2008 Foundation for Critical Thinking - www.criticalthinking.org
    P.O. BOX 220 - Dillon Beach, CA. 94929
    Toll Free: 800.833.3645 - Fax: 707.878.9111  



    28th Conference Mailer

    Foundation for Critical Thinking

    Foundation for Critical Thinking
    		P.O. BOX 220
    Dillon Beach, CA. 94929

    Tollfree: 800.833.3645
    Fax: 707.878.9111
    cct@criticalthinking.org
    CONFERENCE MENU
  • 28th Annual International Conference on Critical Thinking
  • Conference Theme: The Art of Teaching for Intellectual Engagement
  • Conference Sessions (28th Intl. Conference)
  •   Preconference Sessions (28th Intl. Conference)
  • Registration Fees (28th Intl. Conference)
  • Visiting UC Berkeley (at the conference)
  • Academic Credit
  • Hotel-Info: Berkeley California
    		•
    Join us for The World's Oldest Annual Conference on Critical Thinking

    The 28th Annual
    International Conference on Critical Thinking

    Conference Theme:
     The Art of Teaching for Intellectual Engagement  

    July 21-24, 2008
    Preconference:  July 19-20
    The Center and Foundation for Critical Thinking have together hosted critical thinking academies and conferences for more than a quarter century. During that time, we have played a key role in defining, structuring, assessing, improving and advancing the principles and best practices of fair-minded critical thought in education and in society. We invite you to join us for the 28th International Conference on Critical Thinking. Our annual conference provides a unique opportunity for you to improve your understanding of critical thinking, as well as your ability to more substantively foster it in the classroom and in all aspects of your work and life.The Campanile at UC Berkeley
    REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!   CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE

    The 28th International Conference will emphasize the art of teaching for intellectual engagement. The intellectually engaged student:
    • takes ownership of content through actively thinking it through.
    • values questions more than answers
    • seeks understanding over rote memorization
    • assesses thinking for its clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, and significance
    • seeks to identify key structural components in thinking (purposes, question at issue, information and data, , inferences and interpretations, concepts and theories, assumptions and presuppositions, implications and consequences, points of view and frames of reference
    • reads, writes, listens, and speaks critically
    • questions the thinking of others and expects his or her thinking to be questioned by others
    • thinks for himself while respecting and empathically entering the point of view of others
    • locates ultimate intellectual authority in evidence and reasoning, rather than in authority figures or "authoritative" beliefs or texts Under (well-designed) instruction, students learn how to analyze thinking, assess thinking, and re-construct thinking (improving it thereby). The thinking focused upon is that which is embedded in the content of established academic disciplines. As a result, students so taught become actively engaged in thinking historically, anthropologically, sociologically, politically, chemically, biologically, mathematically, ...
    As an integral part of these processes, students learn how to read, write, speak, and listen in a new way (critically). Most importantly, they learn how to learn, using disciplined reading, writing, speaking, and listening as modalities in learning. For a more in-depth look at the conference theme, visit the conference theme page.

    Throughout our work we emphasize and argue for the importance of teaching for critical thinking in a strong, rather than a weak, sense. We are committed to a clear and "substantive" concept of critical thinking (rather than one that is ill-defined); a concept that interfaces well with the disciplines, that integrates critical with creative thinking, that applies directly to the needs of everyday and professional life, that emphasizes the affective as well as the cognitive dimension of critical thinking, that highlights intellectual standards and traits. We advocate a concept of critical thinking that organizes instruction in every subject area at every educational level, around it, on it, and through it.

    The conference will consist of approximately 40 conference sessions offered over 4 days. Participants will choose in advance the sessions offered on days one and two, day three - afternoon, and day four - morning. At the conference, participants will choose from a number of concurrent sessions offered on the third morning of the conference. We invite both new and returning participants to join us for the preconference, to be held July 19 - 20, 2008.

    DOUBLETREE HOTEL & EXECUTIVE MEETING CENTER — BERKELEY MARINA 

    Near the University of California at Berkeley:
    30 minutes from San Francisco Airport.
    15 minutes from Oakland Airport

     

    For additional hotel information Click Here

    		 Pool at the Berkeley Marina



    TEST and Announcements.

    Foundation for Critical Thinking

    Foundation for Critical Thinking
    		P.O. BOX 220
    Dillon Beach, CA. 94929

    Tollfree: 800.833.3645
    Fax: 707.878.9111
    cct@criticalthinking.org

    Announcing the Online Critical Thinking Basic Concepts and Understandings Test

    New Online Testing Center Accessible Now - *Critical Thinking Basic Concepts Test Online:
    The International Critical Thinking Basic Concepts and Understandings Test, developed by leading international authorities on critical thinking, Dr. Linda Elder and Dr. Richard Paul, along with Foundation for Critical Thinking Research Fellow Rush Cosgrove, is the first comprehensive and foundational critical thinking concepts and principles test to be developed and offered for online use. For information regarding licensing or to purchasing this online test, visit our bookstore and registration desk.
    *Members of the Critical Thinking Community may preview this test by taking the Basic Concepts Sample Test, complementary. Simply Login and click on the Online Testing link in the Members' Menu.

    Also, Join Us For These Upcoming Events...

    28th Annual International Conference on Critical Thinking -     The Art of Teaching for Intellectual Engagement
    July 21-24, 2008  (PreConference: July 19-20),  Berkeley, California
    For more than a quarter century, we have hosted the International Conference on Critical Thinking. This year's theme focuses on the Art of Teaching for Intellectual Engagement. 
          Under (well-designed) instruction, students learn how to analyze thinking, assess thinking, and re-construct thinking (improving it thereby). The thinking focused upon is that which is embedded in the content of established academic disciplines. As a result, students so taught become actively engaged in thinking historically, anthropologically, sociologically, … As an integral part of these processes, students learn how to read, write, speak, and listen in a new way (critically). Most importantly, they learn how to learn, using disciplined reading, writing, speaking, and listening as modalities in learning. They become intellectually engaged in learning.  Learn more... www.criticalthinking.org/Conference/28th_Conference.cfm

    2nd International Academy on Critical Thinking - The Oxford Tutorial and Critical Thinking.
    Sept. 3-6, New College, University of Oxford, England
    We will bring our second academy to the UK September 3-6, 2008.     The International Academy on Critical Thinking will explicate the nature of the Oxford Tutorial as it relates to critical thinking, and the nature of critical thinking as it relates to the Tutorial.   Among the Oxford educators invited to present, include David Palfreyman, David Mills and Ted Tapper. In addition, Robert Beck will be joining Gerald Nosich, Richard Paul, Linda Elder, and Rush Cosgrove,  fellows from the Foundation for Critical Thinking.   The academy is designed for collegiate and pre-collegiate educators, lead faculty, teachers, headmasters, and academic administrators.
    Online registration for individuals and groups is open.
     
    ©copyright 2008 Foundation for Critical Thinking



    Blank Template for Emailer - DO NOT DELETE


    Foundation for Critical Thinking

    Foundation for Critical Thinking
    		P.O. BOX 220
    Dillon Beach, CA. 94929

    Tollfree: 800.833.3645
    Fax: 707.878.9111
    cct@criticalthinking.org


    TEXT HERE


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    Oxford Attendee

    Foundation for Critical Thinking

    Foundation for Critical Thinking

    		P.O. BOX 220
    Dillon Beach, CA. 94929

    Tollfree: 800.833.3645
    Fax: 707.878.9111
    cct@criticalthinking.org

    URGENT MESSAGE REGARDING THE UPCOMING CRITICAL THINKING ACADEMY

     

    We look forward to your participation at the 2nd International Academy on Critical Thinking at New College, Oxford Sept 3-6.  As a reminder, the evening meal of September 2 is included in your registration if you are staying at New College.  Please let us know as soon as you possibly can whether you will definitely be in attendance at the dinner meal on September 2.  We just received notice from New College that we need to give them our final numbers for this dinner meal by Monday.

    Please email me directly today if possible at elder@criticalthinking.org

    You may also be able to register for the Academy at that time.  We will let you know presently how registration will be handled.

     

    Dr. Linda Elder
    President
    Foundation for Critical Thinking
    707.878.9100
    www.criticalthinking.org




     


    ©2008 Foundation for Critical Thinking - www.criticalthinking.org
    P.O. BOX 220 - Dillon Beach, CA. 94929
    Toll Free: 800.833.3645 - Fax: 707.878.9111  



    Mailer for Online Course Spring 2008

    Foundation for Critical Thinking

    Foundation for Critical Thinking
    		P.O. BOX 220
    Dillon Beach, CA. 94929

    Tollfree: 800.833.3645
    Fax: 707.878.9111
    cct@criticalthinking.org

    Online Courses For Those Who Teach
    Learn the foundations of critical thinking while incorporating  them into your classes. Read More about this On-line Course

    Enrollment is now Open. Spring Semester Begins January 28th (Ends May 23) 2008!

    The Foundation For Critical Thinking will be offering part one (of a two course series) for teachers and faculty interested in developing their understanding of critical thinking and their ability to bring it into the foundation of instruction.

    Academic Credit Will be Offered Through Sonoma State University
    3 semester units - undergraduate or graduate. Credit available in Philosophy, Education or  Nursing (please specify when registering). Click here for more information about credit.
     

    Call to Register: 800.833.3645 OR  Click Here to Register Online Now!



    29th Conf Registration Form

    2009 International Conference on  Critical Thinking

    Single Attendee Registration Form

    		  Hotel Booking:*Please Note, registration with the conference or workshop does not include hotel booking unless specified. Please register directly with the hotel after completing registration.
    First Name*    Last Name*                Email*

    Job Title:    Dept.    Teaching Level:

    Organization/Group Name* *if not associated with a school or organization enter "individual".
      If joining an existing group registration, Enter your GroupID #

    How Did you hear about this conference?
    Have You attended this conference before? YES NO

     

             
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