CCTNetwork7Mar2016

CCT Open House: The Teaching of Critical and Creative Thinking

Monday, March 7th, 7:00-8:30pm, EST

Location: online via Google Hangout.
Google Hangout link: http://bit.ly/CCTEvent
Activity

CCT open house events provide a chance to learn more about the CCT graduate program and bring together faculty, prospective and current students, graduates, and guests to extend the investigation of critical and creative thinking beyond the formal program. The events often involve discussions, activities, or presentations as well as time to speak to others about your interests.

The theme for the March event is "The Teaching of Critical and Creative Thinking". Specifically, we'll consider the issue of how the teaching of critical and creative thinking works in environments of polarized thinking -- where it seems that individuals or groups are taking extreme positions, or where differences are emphasized over similarities, or where compromise or flexibility are perceived as a signs of weakness or indecision.

During the open house, we'll use a short activity and discussion adapted from the Focused Conversation format in order to inquire together. We might consider questions such as the following:

• Where are the opportunities for the teaching of critical and creative thinking in a community or culture where polarization exists?
• What practices or approaches in the teaching of critical and creative thinking address situations where people take on extreme views and continue to hold them?
• How might the teaching of critical and creative thinking and reflective practice support individuals to examine how their individual views relate to those of the communities in which they identify?

(For additional background, see the description of a past Collaborative Exploration on "Using Critical Thinking as a Tool for Empathy in a Polarized Culture", organized by the Critical and Creative Thinking graduate program:http://cct.wikispaces.com/CEOct14)