Chapman University Extended Education -- Graduate Elective Credit

EDUC 9717B Catch Them Thinking:  Creative and Critical Thinking in All Content Areas 

Franny McAleer, Instructor

Chapman University, Extended Education, Orange, CA

franny@learnerslink.com  724-413-6001 (cell)

Course Description:  Creative and critical thinking in all content areas  is essential to effective teaching.  Effective teaching depends on quality questioning, and this graduate elective course provides teachers with the tools to improve questioning in the classroom.  It gives educators an opportunity to learn and apply effective thinking strategies in their classrooms.  The course is composed of four assignments.

1. Assignment 1:  Attend and participate in the sessions presented by Franny McAleer,  Chapman Instructor.

2. Assignment 2:  Independent, individual, research by reading 50 pages on the topic of creative and critical thinking from professional books, journals, internet articles, etc.  A brief summary, reflection, should be included in the journal (assignment 3).

3. Assignment 3:   Journal/notebook to record what you learn from your readings and during the sessions and how you applied the strategies with your students.

4. Assignment 4:  One page reflection of key understandings gained during this course.

*About Chapman Credits:  Chapman University graduate-level extension courses are designed to serve the needs of those requiring professional upgrading and to enable teachers and administrators to meet requirements for salary increment steps and for re-certification.  Individuals desiring to include this course in a Master's Degree program offered at another institution should secure the approval of that institution first.

Registration:      Teachers will register on the first day of class.  Upon completion of the course a sealed grade mailer will be sent to each participant containing the final grade from Chapman University. 

Final grades will be determined with the following grading scale:  10 -90 = A   89-80 = B   79-70 = C

Assignments for EDUC 9717B Catch Them Thinking: 

Creative and Critical Thinking in All Content Areas 

Preferred set up for the sessions – Tables for participants, LCD projector, screen, flip chart paper, magic markers, and construction paper (red, green, blue, yellow, black and white (one piece of each color for each participant).  A microphone might be necessary depending on the room.

Assignment # 1 -- Professional Development Sessions (40 points) 

Attend and participate in the sessions presented by Franny McAleer, Chapman University Instructor.

Assignment #2 -- Professional Research, Reading and Review  (10 points)

Independent, individual,  research by reading 50 pages on the topic of creative and critical thinking from professional books, journals,  internet articles, etc.  A brief summary, reflection, should be included in your journal (assignment 3).

You have many choices for reading in this course and may select a book, journal or internet articles, or curriculum materials.  To meet the requirement for three credits you should plan to read approximately 50 pages and complete this review assignment.  The textbook or articles should reflect the goals for the course and the course content and should discuss relevant learning theory or practice.  Each book chapter or article should have a bibliographical reference at the beginning of the journal page.

After reading the book or articles, write a short review in the Journal (Assignment 3) that answers the following questions:

1. How did the information in this book or article help me understand more about critical and creative thinking?

2. Did I change/modify my teaching practices or thinking based on this reading? If so, how?

Assignment # 3 -- The Journal  (40 points)

Your journal/notebook is the vehicle that you will use to record what you learn about creative and critical thinking.  It should include:

1.                  Notes from the professional development sessions

2.                  Application of the strategies in your classroom

3.                  Reading summaries

4.                  End of the course reflection

Your journal may be in a written or scrapbook format.  This is an opportunity for you to individualize the course and design a journal to show what you have learned and have fun too.

How long should the journal be?  Your journal/notebook should be at least 10 pages in length.  These pages can combine sketches, pictures, and other graphic organizing tools.  Please send in copies rather than the originals of your work unless you provide a SASE for the return of the originals.  Each book chapter or article should have a bibliographical reference at the beginning of the journal page.  You can also send the journal via email.

Assignment # 4 -- End of Course Reflection  (10 points)

“Practice without reflection is not practice at all.”

Reflection is one way to dialogue with yourself about a learning experience.  The purpose of this short reflection is to help establish what you have learned while studying and researching for this course. Your reflection should answer the following questions:

1.                  Did I accomplish what I set out to accomplish?

2.                  What did I learn that was useful to me as an educator?

3.                  How did this learning change my thinking or practice?

4.                  What more would I like to learn about the subject?