News2016November
News from the Graduate Program in Critical & Creative Thinking
University of Massachusetts Boston4 November 2016
Student Matters
Spring 2017 courses open for registration on November 7th. Hybrid courses involve weekly class meetings on campus, where online students can participate by web video conference. Register for the face-to-face or online section based on how you'll participate--see the class numbers below. Students can register on WISER, and non-degree students should use this page. Courses begin the week of January 30. All times are Eastern time zone.
CRCRTH 602 Creative Thinking (online). Class #5319.
CRCRTH 615 Transformative & Holistic Teaching (hybrid). Mondays, 4:00-6:45pm. (Face-to-face: #5327, online: #5320)
CRCRTH 616 Dialogue Processes (online). Class #5321.
CRCRTH 652 Conceptual Change and Learning (hybrid). Thursdays, 4:00-6:45pm. (Face-to-face: #5328, online: #5322)
CRCRTH 653 Epidemiological Thinking (hybrid). Tuesdays, 4:00-6:45pm. (Face-to-face: #5329, online: #5323)
CRCRTH 688 Reflective Practice (hybrid). Mondays, 7:00-9:45pm. (Face-to-face: #5330, online: #5324)
CRCRTH 693 Action Research for Professional, Educational, and Personal Change (hybrid). Thursdays, 7:00-9:45pm. (Face-to-face: #5331, online: #5325)
CRCRTH 694 Synthesis of Theory and Practice (hybrid). Tuesdays, 7:00-9:45pm. (Face-to-face: #5332, online: #5326)
Changing Life: Genes, Ecology, and Text (co-taught by Peter Taylor through a cross-campus consortium). Wednesdays, 5:00-8:00pm at MIT campus.
The UMass Boston Graduate Showcase takes place on Wednesday, November 16th, from 4:00-7:30pm. All prospective students are invited to visit the table for CCT and other graduate programs across UMass Boston and talk with faculty, staff, and students about the opportunities for graduate study. Presentations are also scheduled around applying to graduate programs, financial aid, and special requirements for certain individual programs.
Courses in the UMass Boston School for Global Inclusion and Social Development are open to CCT students and others as electives. Offerings are face-to-face and include:
GISD 601 (class #12015): Current and Historical Perspectives on Global Inclusion and Social Development
GISD 625 (class #5495): Human Rights-Based Approaches to Social Justice
GISD 626 (class # 3600): Global Health and Human Rights
For more information, see the full descriptions.
CCT Community
Recently prepared and published by Peter Taylor: Ann(ie) Blum in Our Lives
What does it mean to have had Ann—Annie to some—Blum in our lives? The letters and stories from family and friends assembled in this book, together with photos and words of Ann’s own, evoke her presence. They allow us to think about what we want to carry forward, into the lives we still have. For sales, visit https://thepumpingstation.org/books/ or online retailers. Any net revenue from sales of this book is directed towards “The Ann S. Blum Memorial Scholarship in Latin American Studies” at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Gifts can also be made at http://www.umb.edu/giving
In October, Peter Taylor ran two short workshops for faculty and staff on "Teaching Design for Living Complexities" in Australia, at RMIT and Macquarie Universities. See http://www.faculty.umb.edu/pjt/RMITU16
In October several CCT alums and instructors and others participated in a 4-day workshop, Impossible to Simply Continue Along Previous Lines: Changing Life in Times of Crisis, http://sicw.wikispaces.com/newssc16aprogram
Philip DiSalvio, Dean of the UMass Boston College of Advancing and Professional Studies, has a new article, "The Critical Role CE Leaders Can Play in the Transformation of Main Campus Institutions" published in Evolllution.
CCT Events
Fall 2016 Dialogues on Reflective Practice in a Changing World
Next Event (online): Thursday. November 10, 5:00-6:30 EST: Reflective Practice for Civic Engagement
Online participation through Google+ Hangout: RSVP cct@umb.edu for instructions.
Theme: Reflective Practice in a Changing World
Organized by the Graduate Program in Critical and Creative Thinking, University of Massachusetts Boston
For more information: cct@umb.edu
Please join us for one or more of these dialogues, free and open to the public.
Reflective Practice is relevant to any field -- education, health care, organizational leadership, arts, and sciences, activism and many others. It refers to ways that people continually develop or change the practices that they use in their workplaces, schools, and lives. Through reflection, we examine our experiences and seek to understand how they can guide us to make those changes. In this series of participatory dialogues, we'll explore together how we might then relate our individual directions to the bigger picture -- the changing world around us.
The sessions use a Dialogue Process format, centered around a group discussion where participants hear what others are saying and take a turn to speak when they are ready, and where the discussion emphasizes listening well, sharing thoughts-in-progress, and raising questions to help us get clear in supporting us as developing reflective practitioners. The goal is that learning emerges directly from the discussion among all participants, rather than through presentation or lecture. See the full description for this theme, "Reflective Practice in Times of Crisis".
Upcoming Themes (see future newsletters for details in advance of each theme):
- Wednesday. December 7, 7:00-8:30: Reflective Practice for Lifelong Learning
Alum and CCT associates Notes
Maryann Scheufele writes, "I have successfully published my 2004 Delores Gallo Award winning book, JOY, and it is available for sale through the SCBWI Book Blast starting October 10, 2016.
Micia Mosely (instructor for CRCRTH 627 Issues in Antiracist and Multicultural Education) was recently a featured performer in One Nation Under Comedy (Oakland, CA), a show that brought politics and social consciousness into focus as we approach the US elections.
Events
Talk: The New Campus: Reflections on Growth and Change from Distinguished Faculty
November 17, 2016, 3:30-5:00pm
UMass Boston Campus Center, Alumni Lounge (Second Floor)
Each year at commencement, the University of Massachusetts Boston presents the Chancellor's Awards for Distinguished Scholarship, Service, and Teaching to faculty members who have made exceptional contributions in these areas.
Distinguished Scholarship: David L. Levy
Distinguished Teaching: Shirley Suet-ling Tang
Distinguished Service: Jan E. Mutchler
Teaching Critical Thinking to Students: How to Design Courses That Include Applicable Learning Experiences, Outcomes, and Assessments
Sponsored by Magna Publications, led by Linda Nilson
November 15, 2016, 1:00-2:00pm Central time
Online seminar for teachers and practitioners.
For more information and to register, see https://secure.magnapubs.com/online-seminars/teach-critical-thinking-to-students/order/single.html
WUMB Hosts Musical Trailblazer Mavis Staples in Concert November 19 at UMass Boston
WUMB Radio and UMass Boston will welcome rhythm and blues and gospel legend Mavis Staples to campus for a performance on Saturday, November 19 in the Campus Center Ballroom at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for WUMB members, and $40 for non-members. For more information: https://www.umb.edu/news/detail/wumb_hosts_musical_trailblazer_mavis_staples_in_concert_november_19_at_umas
99U Conference
June 7-9, 2017, New York City
The 99U Conference "is a one-of-a-kind live experience that inspires creative professionals to bring their ideas to life and shape the future of the industry."
For more information, see http://conference.99u.com/
Opportunities
League of Creative Interventionists Fellowships
The League of Creative Interventionists "creates unique public art installations that inspire communities to reimagine the social and physical landscapes of their cities". Occasional fellowships are available from select cities at various times for those pursuing projects. For more information, see http://www.creativeinterventionists.com/
Resources
Online writing tutoring for graduate students in UMass Boston courses
The UMass Boston Graduate Writing Center's Online Graduate Writing Tutoring—via the GWC WCONLINE scheduler—became available for students enrolled in CAPS online Fall 16 graduate courses. The scheduler enables students to view openings and schedule tutorials directly, and to request ongoing tutorials with a dedicated tutor. We will continue to offer synchronous online sessions on the writing and research process via the GWC Online Learning Commons. This online Blackboard site provides immediate access to GWC resources, including the synchronous weekly sessions and options for setting up student-led study groups.
For more information, see http://graduatewritingcenter.wikispaces.umb.edu/
New book: Simply Brilliant. Powerful Techniques to Unlock Your Creativity and Spark New Ideas.
by Bernhard Schroder, director of the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center at San Diego State University
"Based on reviewing more than 12 creativity course syllabi from around the world, multiple discussions with leading professors, reading over 20 books on creativity and mindset and an in-depth analysis of the creativity course at Disney Institute, this book was born. Initially I used several books to teach the course but found no one book encapsulated everything the students needed in this course.
The book is fundamentally sound in exploring research around mindset and curiosity. Then I introduce a CreativityWorks framework with four components, a strict brainstorming format and several tools to prompt problem identification and problem solving (i.e. SCAMPER, Observation Lab, Blue Ocean Strategy, IDEAGen -a form of Mind map - etc.). All to provide students with a course that "enlivens" their creativity to the point where they use this structure to solve problems, starting with simple problems and ranging to complex problems by the end of the semester."
The Grant Training Center at Tufts University provides workshops and other assistance to those seeking grants and looking for help in writing proposals. Workshops are offered in person and online throughout the year.
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network's Boston Regional Office & Minority Business Center provides entrepreneurs a network of resources to help them meet business challenges. Our office provides a full range of business advising and training activities. Successful entrepreneurs continually seek ways to improve the management and operation of their business, often seeking outside advice to help with particular challenges. For more information, see their web site at http://www.sbdc.umb.edu/
Food for Thought
(additional web links and posts can also be found on CCT's Diigo pages. General critical and creative thinking focus: https://groups.diigo.com/group/ccreflect; Science in a Changing World focus: https://groups.diigo.com/group/sicwumb)
To Watch
YouTube series: Advice to the Young ("The world's greatest artists shares their advice for the younger generation")
This Dad Built His Young Daughter An ‘American Ninja Warrior’ Course In Their Backyard
To Read:
The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”
MetPublications: publications from the Met museum on art history available for free download
Yo-yo Ma: The two questions one of the world’s best musicians asks about everything
Visions of the Future: Free downloadable posters from NASA
Writers on Writing; Directions: Write, Read, Rewrite. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 as Needed
The problem with p-values: Academic psychology and medical testing are both dogged by unreliability. The reason is clear: we got probability wrong
Five Non-Writing Skills Every Writer Needs
Mobilizing the Crowd to Vet Social Enterprises with Kiva
Whatever you do, don’t quit your job to pursue your passion
Humor in the Classroom
The great women artists that history forgot
Learn How to Listen in a Radically Different Way
We Need to Hear Controversial Things
How To Apply Reflective Practice when Teaching Online
Teaching Critical Thinking: Some Practical Points
Ssshhh! How the cult of quiet can change your life
Awesome dad photoshops his kid's drawings into hilarious and weird reality
Explainer, Elucidator, Enchanter: A Gradation of Great Writing
Embracing the complexity of change
Humor
The Cooper Review: The Most Important Business Website in the World