Critical Thinking and Service-Learning -- EDPR 7/8112 Adolescence Sec. 001 0500-0800 R

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Date Posted: 07:24:09 02/12/07 Mon
Author: Tish Colvin
Subject: Critical Thinking and Service-Learning

Chapter 4 discusses the importance of critical thinking. The author suggests educators introduce controversial topics in their classrooms. I wholeheartedly agree. Although difficult I think it's important for everyone (including non-adolescents) to talk through all aspects of an issue. My office at Virginia Commonwealth University helped promote the idea of service-learning: going out into the community as part of a course. Instead of learning simply from books, students were able to interact with people in their everyday circumstances. Some worked with refugees, others with the homeless, etc. Students then kept journals and were able to look back on how their own thinking of the topic changed throughout the course. I'm curious - do any of you use that format in your classrooms? Is it working well?

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[> Re: Critical Thinking and Service-Learning -- Rachel Landau, 18:05:11 02/14/07 Wed

Like Tish, I agree that critical thinking is an integral part of learning and needs to be appropriately included in the classroom curriculum. Looking at both sides of every story almost forces you to make a judgement or decision about who is right about what. If only one perspective is presented, one might just accept it for truth and not look into what it actually means. Discussions or debates can be used in the classroom to help students form their own opinions. If possible, wouldn't it be great if they could then go out in the community and see how it works or doesn't work?

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