• Course Goals
• Course Objectives
• Assignments and Grading
• Course Timeline and Topics
• Evaluation

Course Goals

Participants deepen their understanding of the theory and applied use of CT principles and practices in the EFL classroom by engaging in the following types of activities.

• Read and discuss professional information and articles in order to develop a deeper understanding of current topics in language pedagogy as they relate to general critical thinking skills.
• Identify, evaluate, and select web-based materials and tools for use in the classroom.
• Interact with colleagues regionally and internationally who share similar pedagogical interests.
• Create classroom materials and projects that demonstrate an understanding of course topics.
• Adapt and enhance existing materials so that they are culturally and age appropriate for their local curriculum.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will:

• Develop an understanding of critical thinking concepts and a deeper awareness of critical thinking patterns.
• Apply this knowledge of critical thinking to classroom teaching and materials development: redesign and implement instructional units and lesson plans which utilize activities that require critical thinking.
• Identify teaching techniques and materials which show evidence of critical thinking teaching and learning.
• Identify relevant resources for developing and incorporating critical thinking activities in participants' teaching environments.

Course components include the following.

• Readings on current issues from online journals, reports, and guides. All materials used in this course are copyright-compliant, available at no additional cost, and appropriate general audiences. Participants can download readings and print or read them offline.
• Online discussion related to readings, lectures, and class work.
• Evaluation and adoption of stimulating and innovative web-based materials.
• Weekly tasks to practice and apply course content teaching plans.

Participants will engage in the following types of activities. All materials used in this course are copyright-compliant and available at no additional cost.

• Read and discuss professional information and articles in order to develop a deeper understanding of current topics in language pedagogy as they relate to general critical thinking skills.
• Identify, evaluate, and select web-based materials and tools for use in the classroom.
• Interact with colleagues regionally and internationally who share similar pedagogical interests.
• Create classroom materials and projects that demonstrate an understanding of course topics.
• Adapt and enhance existing materials so that they are culturally and age appropriate for their schools’ local curriculum.
  

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Course grading system. This class is Pass / No Pass. Participants receive a final score (maximum = 100%) at the end of the course. Participants with a final score of 70% or higher will pass the course.

Instructors will make grades available on the UO Blackboard course management system as work is completed:
http://blackboard.uoregon.edu

Participants receive information about their UO accounts and access information to Blackboard prior to the start of the official start of the course.

Scoring system. Participants each receive an overall percentage score and grade for this class based on work in three areas: online discussions (25% of the total grade), weekly tasks (50% of the total grade), and final project (25%).

Weekly online group discussions (25% of total score). Participants individually contribute (post) substantive comments to a minimum of one discussion per week. A variety of discussion topics will be available each week on pedagogical issues, and practical teaching tips and techniques.

Assessment:

• 0 points = late posting or no posting at all.
• 1-2 points = too short, unclear, imprecise, or off-topic.
• 3-4 points = clear, precise, relevant, and tied in with other's comments.
• 5 points = clear, precise, relevant, tied in with other's comments, and contributing additional information to further discussion.

Weekly tasks (50% of total score). Participants will complete a series of tasks that enhance comprehension of critical thinking and its application. The work will be cumulative in the sense that it is all part of a term-long process, building toward the final project.

Final project (25% of total score). The final project consists of three components (lesson plan, unit, plan, action plan), which are developed and refined in the weekly tasks. After receiving peer and instructor feedback, the three components will be revised and submitted as the final project at the end of the course.

The instructors provide feedback in a combination of points and written comments.

Certificates. Participants who earn a passing grade and a score of 70% or higher in the course will receive certificates of completion.

Privacy Statement. The AEI makes this document available online: Privacy Statement.

Deadlines. Participants should check with their UO AEI instructors with regard to weekly deadlines each term.
To determine time zones for various parts of the world, see:
Time Zone Converter
http://www.timezoneconverter.com/

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Course Timeline and Topics

Week 0
Orientation to course:

• Getting to know the UO Blackboard course management system.
• Testing UO "DuckID" accounts (for use with Blackboard, UO email, etc.).
• Introductions.
• First set of readings and discussion.
• Self-assessment.
  

Week 01
Frameworks and definitions.

Week 02
Elements of critical thinking and Bloom’s taxonomy.
Course Project Part 1: Analyzing a course using the elements of reasoning.

Week 03
Intellectual standards and the Socratic method.
Course Project Part 1, continues.

Week 04
Lesson plans and instructional strategies.

Week 05
Intellectual traits.
Course Project Part 2 begins: Redesigning a Lesson Plan

Week 06
Objectives and assessment.
Course Project Part 2, continues.

Week 07
Course Project Part 3 begins: Redesigning a Unit Plan.
Assessment, continues.

Week 08
Constraints to teaching critical thinking.
Course Project Part 3, continues.

Week 09
Course Project Part 4 begins: Creating an Action Plan.
Self-assessment and reflection.

Week 10
Course wrap-up.

Holidays. Holidays from all our various countries will occur off and on throughout the course. The fact that this course is online means that participants will have a great deal of flexibility on how and when they access materials and complete assignments. Instructors and students are both expected to meet course obligations and responsibilities and complete work in a timely manner.

Some holidays of note for the members of this course are listed below. If you have others that you would like brought to our attention, please let us know. For holiday dates and events, see the Interfaith Calendar:
http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/