Definition
Critical Thinking is disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, systematic, and informed by evidence (EO 1.2).
Framing Language
The culture of higher education includes the pursuit of truth, for the sake of conveying truth to the world. In the pursuit of truth students encounter various understandings and points of view. Therefore, CT is required for students’ development through understanding, evaluating, deciding, and graciously communicating ideas and conclusions.
The goal of Montreat College’s T2I is to develop the critical thinking skills of our students so that they can graciously impact the world around them. To assess the effectiveness of T2I the following rubric is utilized. The T2I rubric addresses the skills of problem solving and learning, creative thinking, and communication of multifaceted ideas, as each are skill based components of critical thinking.
Critical Thinking includes the ability to identify relevant and irrelevant information, recognize how integrating multiple sources of information might impact an issue and to explain the application of new information to solve real-world problems
Work samples to be assessed include, but are not limited to, student reflections, discussion board posts, and course presentations.
Glossary
Disciplined thinking: Controlled thought that demonstrates elements defined below:
- Clear: Expressing ideas in a straight-forward and simple manner.
- Rational: Thought that clearly demonstrates cognitive reasoning to come to a logical conclusion.
- Open-minded: A genuine critical openness to the ideas and beliefs of others (EO 2.4).
- Systematic: Organized thought that follows a logical plan to investigate or explain an idea.
- Evidence: Quantitative and qualitative information that is supported by direct observation and empirical sources.
T2I: Closing the Loop
- Faculty and Staff Professional Development: Cultivating a culture of critical thinking fellowships
- “Fellowship of Philosophers”: Pair of faculty fellows, each from different fields
- Create sub-fellowships of 5-7 diverse students: gender, race, major
- Dinner 1x/month
- Campus meeting 1x/month
- “Wandering Philosophers”: Students from “Fellowship of Philosophers”
- Host forums in residence halls 1x/month
- Host lunch or coffee conversations 1x/month
- Participate in “coffeehouse forums” quarterly
The office of student life will help in the execution of these regular events.
Critical Thinking at Montreat College
The goal of the Montreat College Quality Enhancement Plan is to develop your critical thinking skills so that you can graciously impact the world around you.
Launch
- When: First Year
- What: Learn how to see outside of your opinion and view different perspectives
- Why: Identify or derive alternative interpretations of data or observations
Reinforce
- When: During your major course work
- What: Combine the various opinions you gather with factual studies and research
- Why: Recognize new information that might support or contradict a hypothesis
Impact
- When: Last year
- What: Apply your new skills to communicate graciously with the world around you
- Why: Explain how new information can change one’s understanding and ability to address a problem, so one can graciously and effectively engage with the world