Critical thinking and the academic vocational divide

There is considerable interest in unifying post-compulsory education and training systems through the common teaching of core or key skills. Critical thinking appears to be a very attractive example of such a skill but this article argues against the idea that critical thinking is a core skill that should be widely taught to bridge what is termed ‘the academic vocational divide’. Some of the attractions of this idea are acknowledged but it is argued that the very meanings of critical, academic and vocational depend upon the context and purpose of thinking and it is misleading to suggest that thinking is any kind of a skill. On the basis of this argument and an empirical study it is concluded that when the idea informs curricular policy and practice, far from bridging an academic vocational divide, the idea will actually widen it. If this conclusion is correct for what appears to be a most plausible candidate for a core or key skill, then policies designed to bridge an academic vocational divide that are based on the core or key skills idea should be abandoned.     

大学英语教学与批判性思维培养

我国传统的英语教学只注重对大学生语言知识的灌输和语言技能的培养,而缺乏对学生批判性思维的培养.这种英语教学模式严重阻碍了学生的创新能力和批判意识,妨碍了对英语人才素质的综合培养.在大学英语课堂可以通过营造课堂环境、通过小组讨论、通过反思性教学、通过评估活动等等方式培养大学生的批判性思维能力.     

Critical thinking,executive functions and their potential relationship

The central issue of this paper is to review the possible relationships between the constructs of critical thinking and executive functions. To do this, we first analyse the essential components of critical thinking from a psychological and neurological point of view. Second, we examine the scope of the cognitive and neurological nature of executive functions. Third, we propose a model for comparing or mapping between the most important processes of both constructs. Fourth, we offer some conclusions on the relational path between the two concepts based on the studies reviewed and suggest possible lines of investigation that will undoubtedly facilitate the understanding of shared features and key differences between critical thinking and executive functions.     

批判性思维方式在贫困大学生健全人格塑造中的作用

社会经济地位较低的贫困大学生,在文化适应过程中面临着更多的心理冲突和调适问题,这将对他们健全人格的形成产生巨大的影响。批判性思维有助于他们提高自我反思能力,提升思维质量,理性分析问题,有助于形成独立思考、克服困难的思维品质。     

Critical thinking as culture: Teaching post-Soviet teachers in Kazakhstan

This paper explores the question of whether critical thinking can eventually become part of the cultural fabric in Kazakhstan, a country whose Soviet educational system not only trained teachers to memorise, lecture and intimidate students but also created a culture in educational institutions fraught with many fear-based behaviours engendering competitiveness, intolerance and other hostile behaviours antithetical to critical thinking and an open, democratic society. While educational reform can have profound effects on a nation, education is but one system in a complex network of governmental and cultural systems, and change must be borne by many. This paper reviews literature and presents qualitative data gathered through interviews with Soviet-trained teachers. The authors recommend that teachers should embrace student-centred techniques and critical thinking methodologies, as well as shift from a fear-based, authoritarian, top-down system of relating to students and colleagues to one of cooperation, openness and fairness. Such a reform will take repetitive, intensive and experiential training as well as regular assessments of progress.     

Critical thinking, education, and postmodernity: Possibilities and limitations for moral education

The contemporary educational discourse on critical thinking, as one of the primary aims of education. has been divided into the spheres of modernist defense and post-modernist criticism. Critical of both positions, this paper attempts to find a new way of employing critical thinking, especially for the purposes of moral education, by drawing on Bernard William’s concept of “ethical reflection.” It will be shown that employing critical thinking for the fostering of ethical reflection in our young students can lead them into an “understanding” of ethical, rather than “ethical knowledge,” which enables them to properly deal with moral relativism in a culturally pluralistic society. This paper then explores the educational possibilities presented by Socrates’ teaching method as an example of this employment, though not without consideration of the attendant educational limitations and dangers.     

Critical thinking ability,open-mindedness,and knowledge of the processes of science of chemistry and non-chemistry students

The Chemistry Curriculum Committee of the Philadelphia school district developed a chemistry course guide for use in the city's comprehensive high schools. Instruction based on this guide was intended, in part, to develop critical thinking ability, open-mindedness, and knowledge of the processes of science. Critical thinking ability and open-mindedness appears to have been developed; but only when pretesting was part of the teaching process. Knowledge of the processes of science has not been developed by students in chemistry classes following the Guide, perhaps because of a lack of strict adherence to the intent and content of the chemistry guide.     

主体的裂变及整合

主体的裂变是指现实社会主体在以计算机网络为基础的虚拟社会中通过符合化的方式实现的存在。这种裂变在虚拟社会实现,但也有其现实基础,即现实社会中主体与自我的分离。由于现实社会控制的功能在虚拟社会性弱化,主体的分离在虚拟社会表现为裂变,主体的裂变不仅对虚拟社会发展影响,而且影响了主体现实的心理结构和生活方式,从而直接影响了现实社会的发展,由此,以什么方式和途径整合主体的裂变成为现代社会的重大问题。     

信息技术与物理教学的整合

知识经济的挑战和信息化社会的到来,对人才的智能结构和培养模式提出新要求。将信息技术融入物理课程,从教学规律和耳标出发,恰当合理地应用网络教育技术重组教学内容,探索网络环境下的物理教学设计,使网络环境和资源走进学科教学。     

论信息技术与课程的整合

信息技术与课程整合是时代发展的需要，实现信息技术与课程整合应具备必需的软、硬件环境，在整合过程中，为使整合科学合理，应把整合过程分为确定教学目标、创设学习环境、接受和重新建构、评价和反馈、调整和补充等五个阶段。     

高等数学与信息技术的整合

论述了信息技术的发展对高等数学所产生的深刻影响,利用信息技术与高等数学的整合,发挥信息技术辅助高等数学教学的优势,能够提高教师进行高等数学的教学效率,并且激发学生学习高等数学的兴趣。同时对高等数学与信息技术的整合,提出了思考和一些合理化的建议。     

谈信息技术与物理教学的整合

在信息化的学习环境中,将信息技术与物理教学相整合,对于深化物理学科的教学改革,提高教学效率以及培养学生整体素质和全面能力都具有重要意义。笔者就如何整合信息技术与物理教学谈几点看法。