How to Help Students Think Critically in the College Classroom

Have you ever asked students to ‘evaluate,’ ‘analyze,’ or ‘discuss’ a particular concept, only to feel deflated when you get back a (nearly) copy and pasted textbook definition from a number of students?

First, you’re not necessarily doing anything wrong as the instructor; I felt at fault when I started seeing this pattern in assignments, too. Some college students these days seem to be great at finding and memorizing, but not so skilled at taking a deeper look to apply and analyze.

I see this frequently when I teach courses like Rhetoric, Communication Theory, or International Business Communication. Basically, if it’s a class that students can’t directly apply to their current lives, they tend to skip the critical thinking part and go straight for regurgitation.

In all honesty, it actually makes sense that students would skip this crucial part. Do you remember when you were taught how to think critically? Probably not. It was either something you figured out on your own along the way, or something you never totally grasped. Some students struggle with analyzing and applying material through all their years of schooling because no instructor actually taught them how to think through questions, content, or solve problems using a solid approach.

Currently, I’m taking a faculty development course that is helping me deconstruct the process of critical thinking to help students have a better understanding of it with the aid of a few different approaches.

I’m working on some face-to-face classroom (and potential online classroom) activities that might help my students answer and analyze questions thoroughly in future assignments, and you’re welcome to use all the same tools I’ve been given.

See the following links for extra information:

http://www.criticalthinking.org/ctmodel/logic-model1.htm

http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/using-intellectual-standards-to-assess-student-reasoning/602

The Thinker’s Guide to Analytical Thinking: How To Take Thinking Apart And What To Look For When You Do by Dr. Linda Elder and Dr. Richard Paul (can be purchased on Amazon)

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I’ll keep you updated on my projects regarding critical thinking that are currently in the works. In the meantime, try to find some new ways to guide your own students in thinking deeply.

Happy learning and happy teaching :).