Richard Paul is widely considered to be a seminal thinker in the field of Critical Thinking Studies. In this session we will consider some of Paul’s important contributions to the substantive conception of critical thinking that has been cultivated in the past 40 years or more. We will view and discuss video footage of Paul articulating the theory of critical thinking and how to foster it throughout instruction. We will read and discuss excerpts from Paul’s anthology: Critical Thinking: What Everyone Needs to Survive in a Rapidly Changing World, a text which laid the groundwork for what has come to be known as the Paulian Approach to Critical Thinking, or the Paul-Elder Framework.
Most people who begin to learn critical thinking stop learning before they have a chance to really internalize, and therefore use, its explicit intellectual tools. However, a few go on to take the theory and application of critical thinking to deeper levels. Hence, this session is designed for conference attendees who have worked with us before, at previous conferences or at their institutions in professional development, and are ready to go further through pursuing answers to their own questions.
Thinking is driven by questions. The best thinkers generate and pursue deep questions that lead them to fruitful ways of thinking and higher ways of living. In this workshop, Dr. Elder will help you develop improved lines of inquiry so you can explore, at a more advanced level, the concepts and principles embedded in a robust conception of critical thinking. Be prepared to articulate and pursue your important questions.
