Sunday, March 1, 2015
Infusing 21st Century Thinking Skills Into the T L Environment
- Link to Slideshare Version
- Flash/PDF Version
- Coaching Critical Thinking to Think Creatively!
THE SECRET
Perhaps, if the movie had really discussed some of the great minds of the past, I would have appreciated it more. Instead, we are listening to a bunch of successful people sharing with us how the secret has changed their life (the Law of Attraction!).
Isnt it obvious (self-fulfilling prophecy?) that if you are positive, believe in yourself, have passion, visualize your dreams, go for it, etc., you are more likely to succeed (perhaps I come from Mars!). If you ask me, there was nothing new to discover in The Secret, except clever branding and promotion. It is probably the most exciting, clever and exotic branding since Blue Ocean. The power of The Secret is not in the law of attraction, but in the word: "SECRET". Everyone wants to know a secret. In short, every single motivational guru since I dont know when has indirectly promoted the so called secret, but has labeled it in a less exotic and mysterious way.
However, if it can help some of the millions of people that have watched it to achieve their dreams, then I suppose it has some value :)
THE LECTURE
Actually, the real reason I am writing now is not because of the secret, but because I want to share with you my presentation slides for a lecture that was never conducted. Roughly, a month ago I was invited to be a guest speaker at a major workshop (250 participants!) to conduct a lecture about Critical Thinking. Due to some financial reasons, the workshop was postponed. And since then, I have never conducted this particular lecture. I suppose because no one else knew that I had prepared it. Or perhaps, because I am.... (Use the force! I mean the Law of Attraction)
Anyway, here are the presentation slides:
View If the presentation slides do not make any sense, perhaps you can invite me to conduct the lecture wherever it may be (The first lecture most be conducted face-to-face. Why? I dont know!). Since I am in Malaysia, it might be costly if you want me to conduct the lecture in United States or Alaska. However, if you are Oprah Winfrey or Jay Leno I might consider doing it for free. Sorry David Letterman, for you I will not do it for free.
Now, you are perhaps thinking that I have gone POTTY! Nope, I am simply being positive and realistic about my prospects and practicing the law of attraction :)
On a serious note, after I conduct the first live lecture (if ever! Be positive!), I will record an e-lecture using Adobe Presenter to enlighten (who ever reads my blog!) what I am trying to reveal in the presentation slides.
Until the first live lecture, it will remain a secret. Just exploring the power of The Secret :)
Thursday, February 26, 2015
The Role of Critical Thinking in the Online Learning Environment
Link to article (By Kelly Bruning)
"The role of critical thinking and reflective learning in the online environment is paramount. Critical thinking is the process of taking learned theory and applying them in practice. This requires cognitive skills that require the learner to think of ways to take the concepts learned and apply them.
Critical thinking assignments provide an opportunity for learners to apply knowledge to practical application. Online instructors have the responsibility of providing this opportunity for educational growth to learners and must become creative in developing assignments and projects that foster that growth (extracted highlights jumbled together)."
"Northwestern Michigan College has a campus-wide movement incorporate five core general education learning outcomes in all classes. They are summarized as follows:
- The ability to problem solve.
- The ability to communicate to with other learners.
- The ability to use the English language in communication.
- The ability to read and summarize.
- The ability to apply critical thinking concepts to course concepts."
Overall, this article focuses on the importance of embedding reflection, interaction (student-student, student-instructor, learning communities), problem-solving activities, and feedback into the online learning environment to raise learning to higher levels of critical reflective thinking, and to enhance the quality and effectiveness of online learning.
The real question is how much critical thinking and reflective learning do you apply to your studies?
Although, the lecturer or online instructor has the responsibility of providing such a conducive environment, dont depend on it, and instead be proactive and apply it to everything you learn. With a bit of spice and creativity you can apply these two core elements to your studies, and become a true problem-solver and thinker, which Malaysia increasingly needs .
Lessons Learned from Students use of an Online Learning Environment
"This article highlights the lessons learned from recent research into the use made of an online learning environment by workplace-based students...
(Lessons Learned) The students, being workplace-based, often found that they had distinct blocks of free time to spend studying and said that if the materials were structured into timed units, more effective workplace study could be facilitated. Although the idea of tightly timed units is counter to the idea of self-paced, needs-based learning, on a practical level it may be beneficial to students trying to fit study into their working days. Although the students appreciated the activities provided, they stated that they would have preferred more of them, and more interactivity within them.