February 27, 2015 at 2:51 p.m.
Give it some thought: Nicolet political science professor gives lecture on critical thinking
Give it some thought: Nicolet political science professor gives lecture on critical thinking
There were refreshments in the back, but all attention was focused on Jim Honig, a history and political science instructor at Nicolet College, who was clicking through slides from a presentation entitled "What was I thinking: Critical thinking and you."
That's when the whale exploded.
It was a YouTube clip Honig used to demonstrate the importance of critically analyzing information, one of the many tools he used throughout the presentation.
"The only thing I want you to take away from this is the educational setting," Honig said. "When you look at that educational setting, think of critical thinking as buzz words. Listen to somebody related to education, and count how many times they use that phrase. When a phrase is repeatedly used, the meaning begins to vaporize."
That, in itself, is a matter of critical thinking, Honig said. It won't make you the brightest person in the room, but it's a key step in the process of really learning.
"I wanted to take something that is common place in my field," Honig said. "I've been in education since kindergarten. I can't tell you what (critical thinking) means anymore. I want to give you a baseline and a starting point for what is actually involved in critical thinking. It's a bullet, it's a tool, but it's not an answer. It's something in your ammunition belt and a tool you can use. It doesn't mean you're smart. It's improvement more than anything else."
It's not about absorbing information and regurgitating it at will, Honig said. It's about comprehending information and applying it. Honig said it's a skill that's not taught often enough in educational settings.
"Today, the words have changed and it's a hindrance to what is really going on," he said. "Students will come in and say they're here to develop their knowledge. That would be nice, but that's entry level. Knowledge is that which you remember. It doesn't mean you do anything with it. It's like 'Jeopardy.' We need to do more. I'm saying critical thinking is a way to do more in a better way."
That was Honig's message to those who packed the library basement. Critical thinking is about comprehending the meaning of knowledge instead of talking points. It's questioning and intentionally dissecting information. It's not automatic and instead takes conscious practice.
"Try writing about a topic you know nothing about," he said. "It's tough. That's why I love to tell students they can't hide on a piece of paper in an essay. It's all there. It's understanding and comprehension. The way to test your understanding is to explain it. The depth of your understanding will come out in your explanation. It starts with thinking about your thinking. It's you."
Andy Hildebrand may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.