News2011August

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CCT News24 August 2011

See also previous news, alum news and exchanges, items for the upcoming news, and CCT calendar.
Inform cct@umb.edu if you have news OR want to be emailed when there's a new news compilation (no more than once/month) OR want to be removed from such mailings.

Contents: Student matters, CCT community, CCT events, alums, other events, opportunities, resources, food for thought, humor

Student Matters


The fall semester starts on Tuesday, September 6th. (Online courses start the following week, with courses opening on Monday, September 12th. Please note that WISER indicates that some online courses start on September 9th, but this is an error.)

Registration continues for CCT Fall courses. Current and new students should register as soon as possible:
Face-to-face:
CRCRTH 601 Critical Thinking (Class 14016, Tuesdays at 4:00-6:30pm)
CRCRTH 630, Criticism and Creativity in Literature & Arts (Class 11480, Thursdays, 4:00-6:30pm)
CRCRTH 692, Processes of Research and Engagement (Class 14012, Tuesdays at 7:00-9:30pm)
CRCRTH 652, Children and Science (Class 11483, Wednesdays at 4:00-6:30pm)
CRCRTH 688, Reflective Practice (Class 11484; 5 Monday sessions: 9/12, 10/3, 11/7, 12/5, and one date TBA)

Online:
CRCRTH 601, Critical Thinking (Class 11531)
CRCRTH 616, Dialogue Processes (Class 13550)
CRCRTH 618, Creative Thinking, Collaboration, and Organizational Change (Class 11535)
CRCRTH 670, Thinking, Learning, and Computers (Class 11533)

For all admissions and advising inquiries, email cctcoordinator@umb.edu. While Peter Taylor and Arthur Millman are on sabbatical (during the fall), emails to this address will be answered by the Assistant Coordinator of the Program, Jeremy Szteiter.

CCT Community


Congratulations to August M.A. graduates: Michael Johns and Candace McDuffie (with two more likely to join them in the next week).

CCT Events
UMass Boston Graduate Students will hold a fall reception for all graduate students, including orientation workshops throughout the week, covering writing, library resources, and other academic and support issues.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011, 3:00pm-6:00pm, Ryan Lounge (McCormack Hall, 3rd floor)
See the flyer for additional details and workshop descriptions: Fall2011UMBGradReceptionOrientation.pdf

CCT Graduate Program Open House
Monday, September 12, 2011; 6:45pm-9:00pm
Wheatley 4th floor lounge, W-4-0148. Email cct@umb.edu to RSVP and for additional details.
Theme: Fall Orientation, and meet new and continuing students and faculty. All are welcome to join us as we start the year, reconnect after the summer, and enjoy food and discussion. Orientation includes information relevant to both new and returning students, including brief demonstrations and activities related to the Reflective Practice Portfolios (now part of the program requirements).
Open to all, refreshments provided. Skype participation possible for those at a distance - details available when you RSVP to the email address above.

Other fall CCT open houses will take place on the evenings of October 3, November 7, and December 5. Additional details will be announced as they develop.

Alum and CCT associates Notes
Any CCT alums or associates should submit items for inclusion in future news announcements - feel free to include information on upcoming events of interest to the CCT community, personal notes, and reflections on your critical and creative thinking experiences, both during and since your work in the CCT program.

Michael Johns (M.A. '11) and Jan Coe (M.A. '07) have become grandparents this summer (Landon Isaac Johns in N.C. and Casey Charles Macri in Western Australia -- both big boys).

Luanne Witkoswki ('03 & CCT online instructor) invites visitors to her new website--http://www.lewstudio.com

Candace McDuffie ('11) is writing about the local music scene -- http://digboston.com/author/candace-mcduffie/

Gina Dillon Podolsky ('11) is teaching an 8 week CCT course for senior citizens at the Jewish Community Center where she lives in Scottsdale, AZ.

Events
From CCT student and art educator Alison Palmucci, who has continued to extend and develop this project as an extension of her work in course CRCRTH 693, Action Research for Educational, Professional, and Personal Change:

Art Exhibit and Open Reception: Beyond the Classroom
Beyond the Classroom is an art exhibit celebrating the original artwork of South Shore area art educators. Join us at the opening reception Tuesday, August 30 from 6-8p.m. at the John Curtis Free Library in Hanover, MA. The exhibit will be open through September 29, 2011. This event was developed and organized by current CCT student Alison Palmucci. Check the webpage for directions and more information:
https://sites.google.com/a/hanoverschools.org/beyond-the-classroom-exhibit/
Also, see the flyer for additional details: Fall2011BeyondClassroom.pdf

Opportunities
Service opportunity for CCT students and alums:
Adult mentors are needed to guide youth participants in local organization BUILD's entrepreneurship program. Mentors meet with high school students once per week and help to inspire their critical and creative thinking as they make progress in turning their innovative ideas into entrepreneurial realities. BUILD has a particular interest in the kind of thinking that is valued in the CCT program and is looking to explore additional connections with CCT. Anyone interested should contact cct@umb.edu for more information and application information, and see the BUILD web site to learn more about the organization.

Resources
A long list of creativity tools and techniques:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/essential-resources-for-creativity-163-techniques-30-tips-books.html

Some suggestions for students and researchers on "Choosing the Best Search for Your Information Need"

Food for Thought
Article: "Reason Seen More as Weapon Than Path to Truth"

Article: Are Men Funnier Than Women?

Article: Quoting Change

Video: Clarence Clemons, 1942-2011

Video: Bill Evans - Waltz for Debby

Article: The Vegetarian Lesson

Raoul Vaneigem's "Déclaration universelle des droits d'être humain"
Declares the right of every human being to:

A creative business card-

Humor
Create: http://www.picassohead.com/create.html

Article: "Parachute use to prevent death and major trauma related to gravitational challenge: systematic review of randomised controlled trials."