Critical Thinking
For ETC students, ideally you need to challenge to reach Resolution category by achieving all first three categories.
The first category (triggering event) is a problem-posing event and, therefore, is considered evocative and inductive by nature in terms of conceptualizing a problem or issue.
Discussion Action:
You complete your reading, and respond to the lesson discussion question.
Thinking Action: Inductive/Evocative
The second category (exploration) is a search for relevant information and, therefore, reflects an inquisitive and divergent process in the search for ideas to help make sense of a problem or issue.
Discussion Action:
You go beyond our required readings to explore more literature to address the discussion questions and address the questions raised by others.
Thinking Action: Divergent/Inquisitive
The third category (integration) represents the construction of a possible solution and, therefore, is a tentative conversion or connecting of relevant ideas capable of providing insight into the dilemma.
Discussion Action:
You demonstrate you connect your and others’ relevant ideas.
Thinking Action: Convergent/Tentative
The fourth category (resolution) is the process of critically assessing the concepts and, therefore, represents a commitment to a solution and deductively testing its validity.
Discussion Action:
You demonstrate you are able to analyze and assess the strengths and the weaknesses of your knowledge. Additionally, you are able to propose a solution to address the weaknesses of your thinking.
Challenge your own argument.
Thinking Action: Deductive/Committed
Practical Inquiry Model (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2000)
Cognitive Presence Descriptors (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2001)
Example: Evaluating Critical Thinking for Lesson Discussions
