Digital-Age Teaching & Learni9ng:
Creativity - Innovation-Problem Solving-Critical Thinking
Creative Thinking Skills for Life and Education
What is critical thinking? Why teach it? How can we teach it effectively? Thinking Skills and Problem solving in Education. How Can we teach creativity?
Teaching Creativity
Facing The Blank Page
How often have you been slain with this situation: You sit down to craft killer copy for a client. Or need to pull from your mind some insight that really communicates your heart and mind at the moment… And if you were driving, speaking into your iPhone recorder... or to a business partner or client, it might just flow.
Or might not.
Solve Problems. Brainstorm. Speed Solutions. Get Smart.
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Creative Commons License Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
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One of the articles I included in this collection, “Sowing the Seeds of Creativity” by Mitchel Resnick, describes two tools that foster creative thinking in students. Resnick provides ideas for how to guide students and examples of the ways students have used the tools. (Read the article here at one of the two links below:
And students will need the ability to think creatively and critically in our fast-paced society. Whether you believe the purpose of education is to create citizens or workers, we could all agree that economic and societal realities require more than rote recall of dates, places, and names.
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>> Your Assignment: Try the assigned Whiteboard and be ready to report how you could use it.
(Quick fast way to get started-No sign up required)
Free online whiteboard that allows users to collaborate in real-time. No registration required. Built-in chat, image uploading, file sharing and more.
www.scriblink.com/ - Cached - Similar – Can you use MATH FUNCTIONS? DRAW Functions ?
Simple and easy online multi user whiteboard, start skrbl, give out your URL & start working together. Sketch, text, share files, upload pictures all in one ...
www.skrbl.com/ - Cached - Similar - Can you use MATH FUNCTIONS? DRAW Functions ?
3. TEST me. Online collaborative GE Whiteboard - Imagination At Work- FREE - One of the coolest things I've seen recently. Not only does it allow you to write freely within your browser but you can have others join in and write ...
4. TEST me Whiteboard http://writeboard.com/
With this free web app, students can collaborate on documents from anywhere and view changes in a snap. Whiteboard allows users write, collaborate, and compare in real time without fear of losing information. A place to create shareable, web-based text documents. Write solo or collaborate with others.
Can you use MATH FUNCTIONS? DRAW Functions ?
5. TEST me Dabbleboard Make whiteboard drawings and graphic organizers in an online space you can share with others. Since more than one computer can work on the whiteboard at a time, students in multiple locations can add to the board at the same time. is another whiteboard that you can collaborate to visualize your ideas and share them as images. The good thing is that, you don’t have to register or install anything. It works in all browsers, it’s real time and you can get an embed code for your drawing after you finish.
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What is critical thinking? Why teach it? How can we teach it effectively? Thinking Skills and Problem Solving in Education. How Can we teach creativity?
Critical Thinking Attributes of Critical Thinkers The Logic of Critical Thinking
The Ethics of Critical Thinking
Problem-Solving Skills Combining Creative and Critical Multiple Intelligences / Styles
Methods in Design & Science
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Winston Detective Agency - Addition Game
FunBrain is the #1 site for online educational games for kids of all ages. (math, grammar, science, spelling, history)
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10 Creative Projects for Multimedia Projects
Edheads brings you high quality, free educational activities for your classroom
Edheads helps students learn through educational games and activities designed to meet state and national standards. We partner with various school systems in the United States, which help us research, design and test our activities every step of the way!
Not only do teachers and students appreciate our free activities, Edheads has been recognized by almost every major award on the Web for our excellent educational content!
So dive into an activity to let the fun and learning begin!
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Kerpoof How to I use this in my content area??
Kerpoof is a site that provides a variety of creative tools for animation, drawing, and movie creation. Users can choose from a range of preset characters and environmental options, or they can create their own. The site offers drag-and-drop simplicity coupled with advanced animation and editing capabilities that, according to Lovely, open the platform up to a range of curricular applications.
Teacher Accounts - Kerpoof offers educators the ability to register students and arrange them into classes. Students may chat with each other, ...
kerpoof.com/teach -
>>>> Integration ideas for Kerpoof and lesson plans
Kerpoof-based Lesson Plans (in the following areas)
Learning to Use Kerpoof
These introductory lessons can be adapted to teach any class or audience how to use Kerpoof.
- Introduction to Kerpoof's Make a Drawing (PDF) Introduction to Kerpoof's Make a Picture (PDF)
- Introduction to Kerpoof's Make a Story (PDF)
Master Artist Series
Math and Science
Language Arts
Social Studies
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New Ideas To Check Out !!!!
Creativity and Innovation - Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:
Voki - Voki is a free service that allows you to create personalized speaking avatars and use them on your blog, profile, and in email messages. ... http://www.voki.com/ Math for kids and their teachers. Interactive math lessons, activities, math games, and free math worksheets for kindergarten through middle school ... http://jmathpage.com
Shidonni A virtual world for young children. They can create imaginary worlds and animals, play games and interact with each other. Go!Animate Takes story telling using online cartoon strip makers a little bit further by allowing students to spark life into characters and create short animations. A super tool to foster creativity and engage students.
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Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.
Design , build and test.
Name Three Things That...
Critical Thinking Worksheets
Brain Teasers- A great way to stimulate thinking. They come complete with answer keys.
Logic Puzzle- Each scenario is thought provoking. Lots of brain power needed here.
Mazes- Your run-of-the-mill start and finish mazes.
Secret Code- Students answer riddles through secret codes.
Creative Thinking-Critical Thinking - Problem Solving
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MORE.....CRITICAL THINKING TO EXPLORE:
Games
- Peg Game (MathFactCafe.com)
Provides a peg board and the goal is to jump pegs until only one is left. 8-01
Lesson Plans
- Critical Thinking Strategies (Foundation for Critical Thinking)
Contains a description of 35 dimensions of critical thinking. 3-00
- Problem Solving (Awesome Library)
Problem Solving lesson plans are in "Multidisciplinary" in the "Lessons and Curricula" of the Awesome Library.
- Problem Solving Lessons (PBS TeacherSource)
Provides seven lessons, by topic. 3-01
- Questioning - Tools for Questioning (From Now On)
The Questioning Toolkit provides different kinds of questions, along with tools to answer those questions. It includes Essential Questions, Subsidiary Questions, Hypothetical Questions, Telling Questions, Planning Questions, Organizing Questions, Probing Questions, Sorting and Sifting Questions, Clarification Questions, Strategic Questions, Elaborating Questions, Unanswerable Questions, Inventive Questions, Provocative Questions, Irrelevant Questions, Divergent Questions, and Irreverent Questions. 5-01
- Self Development (Kent State University)
Provides lessons for students for different types of self development. 7-00
- Self-Esteem and Problem Solving (Kent State)
Provides lessons on self-esteem and problem solving. An Anglo-American perspective. 9-99
- Tactics that Encourage Active Learning (Foundation for Critical Thinking)
Provides 11 tactics to encourage active learning. 3-00
- Thinking Critically About Video Games That Play at War (Media Education Foundation)
"Many video games are based on the theme of war, a theme that has been a part of the video game industry from the beginning—and a part of traditional games for much longer. However, in a post-9/11 world and in a time when the United States is still engaged in the ‘War on Terrorism,’ it is important to think critically about the messages sent by these games and to ask questions about their cultural meanings and significance. In this activity, students will:
-think critically about the imagery and narratives of video games based on war,
-consider that video games can be used as a propaganda tool,
-become familiar with the debate about violent video games, and -become aware of the connections between militarism and video games."
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Book Exercises: "BRAIN STORMING"
(sample from the book)
by Marty Fligor Published by Creative Publishing Mansfield Center, CT
Practice 1: .Where in the world would you find a leaf or leaves?
Practice 2: Name things made of wood.
Practice 3: Name things that have holes in them.
Practice 4: Give uses for velcro
Practice 5: List uses for a balloon
Practice 6: Give uses for a piece of toast
Practice 7: Give uses for a windshield wiper
Practice 8: Give ways to put out dragon's fire
Practice 9: I promise I will ...........
Practice 10: What would happen if there were no commercials
Practice 11: In 1 minute name countries
Practice 12: Compare and Complex - Name a manufactured item for each letter of the alphabet. (example a-abacus b-block c- car etc
Practice 13: Your ship is sinking. What will you do? ( really think outside to box on this one or throw the box away)
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Wordle Turns any given text into a word cloud then picks out the most common words and give them prominence by increasing their size. Behind this simple concept lies many possibilities for use in the classroom. http://www.wordle.net/ Wordle LINK
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/tag_clouds_of_obamas_inaugural_speech_compared_to_bushs.php
Wordle Turns any given text into a word cloud then picks out the most common words and give them prominence by increasing their size. Behind this simple concept lies many possibilities for use in the classroom. http://www.wordle.net/ Using Wordle for technology integration in education.
Top 20 Uses of Wordle:
Wordle Wordle is a free 'word art' tool that crunches any chunk of text in the production of a visual representation of the content. The resulting graphic emphasizes the most common words by amplifying their size based on frequency. Originally designed to give pleasure, Wordle is being used in interesting ways to provide compelling summaries of political speeches, blog posts,
twitter feeds, news articles and more, but there are additional educational uses worth considering.
A few ideas:
1] Convert a sonnet or
Shakespearean play; or children's book (
Dr. Seuss anyone?);
2] Paste the contents of an
online discussion to coalesce the main ideas;
3] Combine student 'Who Are You?' introductions, or '
Superhero
Traits' to develop a class composite;
4] Condense
survey data by dumping content of questionnaire responses into the Wordle engine;
5] Combine
news articles or
RSS feeds on a given topic;
6] Turn an
essay into a poster;
7] Combine blog posts over time into a
simplified represetation or use it to compare the ideas of
competing ideas;
8] Use font, colour and arrangement strategies to appropriately represent content;
9] Automate the creation of
word poetry;
10] As an introduction to a unit or course, combine key words; themes;
curriculum expectations to provide learners with a visual overview of content;
11] Convert nutritional content of one's
weekly diet or of a group's menu preferences;
12] Condense a
Wikipedia article into it's essence;
13] Paste the
results of a Google search (Can you guess the keywords I used?);
14] Convert
social bookmark tags;
15] Enter keywords from
weekly weather reports to obtain a seasonal picture;
16] Distill song lyrics like "
Stairway to Heaven";
17] Find out what you've been up to by summarizing
To-Do lists;
18] Represent the results of a brainstorming session or the
minutes of a meeting visually;
19] Show "
Today in History" stories in a new way;
20] Convert past or
current email messages into a composite of your correspondence;
I had my MBA students use Wordle as an ice breaker last week for the first day of class. They had had me for another class eight months previously. My question to them, was "What have you been doing since then?" Each student had to do a one minute presentation using Wordle as a visual aid with key words. They enjoyed and so did I!
>>> ASSIGNMENT WORDLE SAMPLE TEXT TO TRY: (COPY the text below)
COPY STARTS BELOW:
What Ever Happened To The AV Club? by Dr. Howie DiBlasi
When I was in high school in the 60s, I was a proud member of the Audio Visual Club. This was before geeks and nerds — we were the pre- geeks and nerds. We would have a contest to see who could load the 16-mm film projector the fastest and our second contest was to see who splice a tape for the reel-to-reel tape recorders the fastest. I held the school record for replacing an overhead bulb in the projector.
None of our group ever imagined a CD, DVD, clickers, smart boards, Second Life, podcasting, video conferencing, the Internet and several other technologies that our schools use every day.
The common thread in comparing old and new technology is a vision for creating positive change.
Several new technologies are changing the shape of classrooms:
• Smart Boards – (a large – 4ft by 8 feet- white board that projects images on the board- teacher or students touch the screen/whiteboard and it is interactive. Used to display computer and or video images. The board is similar to a touch screen and you can cut/copy/paste/move images or type on it.
• LCD Projectors – (short description of what each is here) (a projection devise that you can connect a video camera, TV output or computer and project the image on a large screen up to 10 feet by 10 feet)
• Clickers – (Students can use the handheld device and click on a small keyboard to answers questions in the classroom. Allows the instructor to receive instant feedback and display the results on a computer)
• IVC – (Interactive Video Conference –camera and TV allows connections around the world. Can bring experts, museums, zoos and other content providers into the student’s classroom using IP video connection on the Internet)
• Document cameras – (a stationary camera mounted on a stand an pointed down to the stand, - that allows the instructor to display document, specimens, samples and any small object to display on a large screen. A zoom lens on the camera can maginify the object from 10 – 1000 percent.)
• Podcast Recorders –Podcasts are recorded by students about educational projects in the classroom. IE. book reports, digital stories, debates, class discussion, performances etc. (the old cassette recorder for the 21st Century Classroom. A small electronic recorder that fits in the palm of your hand. Can record up to 3 hours of content on a small media card. Card is removed and inserted into a computer and recordings are then edited to be placed on the Internet for educational listening
• Virtual Reality – (VR is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment. It can be real or imagined one. Most of the current virtual reality environments are primarily a visual experience that displays on a computer screen or through special or stereo vision goggles)
Districts that make new technology work invested in staff development and train teachers with new tools such as blogs, wikis, podcasts and visual literacy.
They provide access to new equipment including clickers, smart boards and 1-1 computers for every student and also invest in technicians and a chief information officer to keep systems operating correctly.
Digital natives — young people who have spent their entire lives in the digital world — need new tools to expand their reach into the world to acquire and remember information. School districts should not be afraid of new technology that challenges old paradigms.
In most of our schools today, students have very little input in the structure and substance of their education. Teachers still do the proverbial classroom lecture every day. Research is beginning to tell us that kids are bored, especially when outside of school they are using YouTube and media-saturated, tech-driven products and applications.
I wonder what would happen if we were to seek input from our students?
We might learn that they prefer questions rather than answers. Maybe they would share their opinions, group projects, devise project for the classroom, communicate on real-world issues, and tell us how they can own their own learning.
Talk to your students — they have great ideas on how to integrate technology into the classroom — lead by listening.
Ask students: What experiences in school really engaged you?
How do you use technology in school as opposed to outside of school?
What would you do to make school more fun?
>>>> (COPY STOPS HERE)
Wordle LINK Presidents Speech:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/tag_clouds_of_obamas_inaugural_speech_compared_to_bushs.php
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iNnOVATION - Why is it important ??
What is Innovation? – Innovation may be defined as exploiting new ideas leading to the creation of a new product, process or service. It is not just the invention of a new idea that is important, but it is actually “bringing it to market”, putting into practice and exploiting it in a manner that leads to new products, services or systems that add value or improve quality. It possibly involves technological transformation and management restructuring. Innovation also means exploiting new technology and employing out-of-the-box thinking to generate new value and to bring about significant changes in society.
Why Innovation is important?
Studies have confirmed that all businesses want to be more innovative. One survey identified that almost 90 per cent of businesses believe that innovation is a priority for them. The conclusion is that the importance of innovation is increasing, and increasing significantly. In the current day economic scenario, innovativeness has become a major factor in influencing strategic planning. It has been acknowledged that innovation leads to wealth creation. Even though efficiency is essential for business success, in the long run, it cannot sustain business growth.
Most often planned and measured combination of ideas, objects and people leads to innovation resulting in new business ideas and technological revolutions. In order to be termed valuable innovations, new products and services need to be strong enough to progress through rigorous commercialization processes and into the marketplace.
Management expert Peter Drucker said that if an established organization, which in this age necessitating innovation, is not able to innovate, it faces decline and extinction. Many organizations are adopting measures to strengthen their ability to innovate. Such companies are creating a dependable operating system for innovation, an important indicator of corporate sustainability.
Video on Innovation
>>>> Watch this video first....
Xerox Historical Innovation Science Video: Joe Wilson
>>> Then watch this video
BMW (South Africa). Defining innovation.
Video to watch when you have time
IBM Innovation Man:
Russell Simmons on Innovation and Business
Guy Kawasaki Explains the Art of Innovation in 10 Steps
Jeff Bezos: After the gold rush, there's innovation ahead
Creating a Culture of Innovation
Innovation at Google
The Myths of Innovation
Kick Out the Ladder
Innovation in Education
Wiimote Whiteboards & iPod touches in Special Education - Part 1
Nokia: Go Play - 4th Screen
Web sites - Extra - Time to EXPLORE-COMPARE-SHARE
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Science
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills - ADS ????????
Try a game ON THE WEB PAGE
Creativity/Problem Solving/Critical Thinking
Lesson Plans and Resources
Web Site here:
The sites listed below provide lesson plans and resources for promoting problem solving, creativity, and critical thinking. Click on a topic from the site index below to find the resources you need. For resources and lesson plans for gifted education, click here. To go to the Educational Resources and Lesson Plans main index, click here.
Site Index: problem solving lesson plans, problem solving resources, creativity lesson plans, creativity resources, critical thinking lesson plans, critical thinking resources
Problem Solving Lesson Plans
Lesson Plans for Problem Solving
This sequence of lesson plans for grades 3-4 and up is designed to help your students learn to solve problems logically in all mathematics subjects.
Problem Solving Lesson Plan Index
Fourteen lessons for a variety of subjects and grade levels.
Problem Solving Using Tables
From BrainPOP. See also Word Problems.
Improving Deductive Reasoning Skills
A lesson plan for grades 7-12.
Problem Solving---A Part of Everyday Thinking
A lesson plan for grades 4-12 in which students learn and use the six basic steps to problem solving.
Working with Environmental Issues
A learning module from the Peace Corps' World wise Schools. in which students use problem-solving skills to address a real-world problem. It is intended for elementary and middle grade students.
You Don't Know What You've Got Until Its Gone
A lesson plan for a secondary English or Social Studies from the Rock and Roll hall of Fame.
Engineering Problem Solving
A high school physics lesson plan.
Problem Solving Resources
21st Century Problem Solving
Problem-solving examples, strategies, and resources for students and teachers.
Request-Response-Result
A summary of the request-response-result process for problem solving.
Problem Solving: Definition, Terminology, and Patterns
A concise, informative essay. See also Problem Solving for another definition as well as terminology, cognitive factors, and facilitating transfer.
Big 6: An Information Problem-Solving Process
Information and online resources for using this strategy.
The Problem Site
Educational Games - Free math problems, puzzles, word games, brainteasers, and mystery hunts.
Creativity Lesson Plans
Assorted Creative Thinking Activities
Several activities for the elementary grades.
Creating Art Using Music and Feelings
A lesson plan for grades 1-4 promoting creativity through integration of music, art, and the emotions.
Mannequin
An activity for grades 1-5 that is designed to encourage creative thinking, cooperation, and help students get acquanted.
The Use of "Substitution" As A Creative Thinking Tool
A lesson plan for grades 1-6.
Creativity and Butterflies
A lesson plan for grades 2-5 integrating science, literature, and creativity.
Tests of Applied Creativity, Logic, and Reasoning
A lesson plan for grades 5 or 6 that can be used in a variety of subjects and contexts.
Squiggle Art
A lesson plan for grades 2-3 requiring flexible and creative thinking.
Creative Inventions
A 5th-grade lesson plan in which students work individually or with a partner to design a new invention or idea for their community to solve the problem of people driving around lowered gates at a railroad crossing.
Pourquoi Stories: Creating Tales to Tell Why
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 dealing with stories or folk tales that explain how or why something exists (usually in nature).
Newspaper Creations
A n activity for grades 4-8 involving movement and creativity.
Create a New Ammendment
A middle grade or high school lesson plan from Education World in which students demonstrate critical thinking and creative thinking skills in developing a new amendment to the Constitution.
Creating a More Humane and Environmentally Sound Future
A high school lesson plan in which students learn critical and creative thinking by creating a scenario of a more humane and environmentally sound future.
Writing Up a Spanish Storm: Using Creative Thinking for Creative Writing
Ideas for an advanced high school Spanish unit. The site also contains quite a bit of background information on creative thinking.
Creative Activities for the Sciences
Three activities related to the sciences and adaptable to a variety of grade levels that provide opportunity for creative growth in students .
Creative Drama Lesson Plans
Many lesson plans sorted by age level.
Art Activities and Lesson Plans for Exploring Creativity
Twenty-five lesson plans.
Crayola Creativity Central
A searchable directory of lesson plans using Crayola products.
Creativity Resources
The Creative Teaching Web Site
An excellent site with articles, ideas, and information for developing more creative teachers.
Rubric for Creative Thinking Skills Evaluation
Uses the Torrence model plus other criteria. See also Rubric for Divergent Thinking.
Defining Creativity
A bunch of definitions.
Creativity for Kids
Arts and crafts products.
Creative Thinking
Links to "handouts" with concise information on definitions, characteristics, traits, etc.
Creatology: A Science for the 21st Century
A paper describing the emerging dsicipline of creatology.
Critical Thinking Lesson Plans
Teacher Resources from the Center for Critical Thinking
This is the ultimate critical thinking lesson plan site. See their selection of "remodeled" lesson plans organized by grade level. For information on the Center's approach to critical thinking, see Our Concept of Critical Thinking or go to their homepage.
Critical Thinking Strategies
A lesson plan adaptable to a variety of grade levels that is intended to help students develop and evaluate the critical thinking skills of comparing, contrasting, and analyzing similarities and differences.
Book Sorting: Using Observation and Comprehension to Categorize Books
A primary-grade lesson plan that addresses critical-thinking skills, observation and categorization processes, as well as reading comprehension and writing skills, while at the same time providing teachers with a vast array of diagnostics through observation of student interaction and conversation.
Voyage Across the Ocean
An elementary physical education lesson plan designed to foster cooperation and critical thinking skills.
An Exploration of Simple Machines
An elementary lesson plan designed to promote the use of critical thinking and problem solving skills to help students understand how simple machines work.
Internet Investigations: Unsolved Mysteries
A language arts lesson plan for grades 4-5. See also Literature Units to Foster Critical Thinking.
Detective Fiction: Focus on Critical Thinking
A unit for grade 6.
Critical Thinking Skills
An 8th-grade lesson plan designed to teach students how to use critical thinking skills to solve everyday problems.
Fostering Critical Thinking Skills for Consumer Health Decisions
A high school lesson plan for a health class.
Introduction to Critical Thinking Using a Lateral Thinking Game
A lesson plan for an AP high school class.
Draft Letters: Improving Student Writing through Critical Thinking
A high school lesson plan from Read-Write-Think in which students write reflective letters to the teacher, identifying their own thoughts on the piece that the teacher is about to read. See also Analyzing Character Development in Three Short Stories about Women and Lights, Camera, Action . . . Music: Critiquing Films Using Sight and Sound for other high school critical thinking lesson plans from Read-Write=Think.
Critical Thinking
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 designed to to foster critical thinking over Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
Critical Thinking Resources
Mission Critical
A "virtual lab," capable of familiarizing users with the basic concepts of critical thinking in a self-paced, interactive environment.
Rubric for Assessing Critical Thinking
See also Higher-Order Thinking Rubric.
The Critical Thinking Community
Much information and many resources.
Critical Thinking: What Is It?
Concise article written by Robert H. Ennis.
Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric
From Insight Assessment. See also Critical Thinking Competency Rubric.
Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum Project - Glossary
A glossary of terms and concepts related to critical thinking from Longview Community College. See their index page, Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum Project, for a great deal of information as well as resources for integrating critical thinking into college classes.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving in Art
A list of suggestions for building students' skills of critical thinking and problem solving in art. See also Aesthetics: Critical Thinking about Art.
E-mail me if you would like help in locating the resources you need. Also, please let me know if you find a link on this site that no longer functions.
My name is
Edmund J. Sass, Ed.D. You can reach me at esass@csbsju.edu
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Creative Projects for Multimedia
AR
5 BEST Virtual Field Trips
Field trips can be amazing learning experiences. They provide students with the opportunity to actively participate in education, offering learning possibilities that aren’t readily available in the classroom. Unfortunately, it isn’t always practical or possible to take students on field trips. Now students can explore the world with simulations that are so realistic, they will believe they have left the classroom. Below are five of the best virtual field trips on the web:
The Smithsonian Virtual Museum is truly remarkable. Students can ‘step’ into the exhibits and take a tour through the entire museum in a 360 degree environment. The virtual museum is made up of panoramic pictures of the actual exhibits inside the Smithsonian. Using their mouse, students “walk” through the museum room by room. They can zoom in, look left and right, look up and down, and walk forward or backward. Camera icons throughout the museum show students hot spots where they can get close to an exhibit panel. As students explore the museum, they will see: the ocean hall, ancient seas, dinosaurs, early life, fossils, plants, mammals, African cultures, the Ice Age, Western cultures, reptiles, insects, butterflies, bones, geology, gems, and minerals.
A field trip to a forest is a wonderful way to learn about tree species, ecosystems, habitats, and animals. The UPM Forest Life virtual field trip will have your students believing that they are actually in a forest smelling pine trees.
UPM Forest Life aims to teach about forest sustainability. It does this by inviting students to take a virtual hike through a forest. The forest is made up of panoramic pictures of an actual forest. Students can zoom in, look up and down, left and right, and ‘walk’ through the forest with their mouse. Students start their field trip with a virtual tour guide. As students ‘hike’ through the forest, they will click on hot spots that reveal videos of forest life, pictures with information, and sounds.
The moon is no longer off limits for field trips! Students can visit the moon virtually using Moon view in Google Earth. Google Earth makes for excellent virtual trips around the world; in Google Earth 5.0 you can also take your students to the moon.
Real field trips don’t allow for adventures like a helicopter ride above the Grand Canyon, an expedition to Mount St. Helens, or a helicopter tour of Manhattan or Disneyland Paris. Planet in Action makes all of these possible with the help of Google Earth.
Virtual Field Trip #5: AR Sights
Most students probably won’t have the ability to travel to the pyramids or the Eiffel Tower for a field trip.
Augmented Reality makes it possible to see these landmarks, and more, using Google Earth in 3-D.
Augmented Reality requires a webcam, browser add-on, and a printout provided by the AR Sights website.
After a simple graphic is printed out, it is held up to a webcam. Students will see a landmark spring to life right before their eyes on the computer screen. As the printout is tilted, twisted, and moved the landmark moves accordingly. Students can view the famous landmark in 360-degrees, 3-D, and up close. It is truly incredible!
AR Sights makes it possible to view Google Earth right in a web browser and then zoom into places of interest, looking at them in 3-D with Augmented Reality. Students can ‘fly’ around Google Earth, when they find a place of interest, they will hold the printout up to the camera and explore the landmark. This is an amazing visual method for learning about geography and famous landmarks. If you only have access to one webcam, use it with a computer connected to a projector or interactive whiteboard for whole class exploration.
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Math Games
Math by Design provides students the opportunity to learn geometry and measurement concepts in a virtual environment. As junior architects of a community park and environmental center, students are tasked with building a skateboard ramp, planning a picnic area and other fun interactive challenges.
Lure of the Labyrinth Library
We know that the idea of using digital games to teach and learn math might be a new one for you. (It's new to us, too - in fact, it's pretty much new to everyone!) So we thought it would probably help to provide a little context - what educators sometimes call 'scaffolding' - around Lure of the Labyrinth. The Library is where you can learn more about the many issues surrounding games and learning and also go much deeper into Lure of the Labyrinth itself.
Games as a Part of Today's Culture talks about digital games and the ways they impact every day life.
What About Games Makes Them Good for Learning? looks at the inherent characteristics of games that mirror principles educators have found to make for a great learning experience.
Lure of the Labyrinth is a digital game for middle-school pre-algebra students. It includes a wealth of intriguing math-based puzzles wrapped into an exciting narrative game in which students work to find their lost pet - and save the world from monsters! Linked to both national and state mathematics standards, the game gives students a chance to actually think like mathematicians.
. Environmental conservation
Let your little ones into environmental conservation and learning about new cultures! Kids can travel the globe, learn more about environmental causes and new cultures by using their imagination and the click of the mouse. HabitatHeroes.com, the first online social networking site for young eco-warriors includes games that teach children about endangered species, the environment, healthy eating, and cultures around the world.
The ideal age group is 5 – 8 years old as tested by our daughters ages 9, 8 and 6 years old and discussed with other moms. http://www.habitatheroes.com/
Excitement!
The following activities will help you learn some fun science facts.
Math by Design provides students the opportunity to learn geometry and measurement concepts in a virtual environment. As junior architects of a community park and environmental center, students are tasked with building a skateboard ramp, planning a picnic area and other fun interactive challenges.
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Amusement Park Physics
Explores how the laws of physics play a role in the design of amusement park rides. Design a roller coaster, determine the outcome of bumper car collisions, and more.
Ask Dr. Universe
How do chameleons change color? When was the light bulb invented? Why can't cats and dogs be friends? Want to know the answers to these and hundreds of other questions? Then just ask Dr. Universe, the world's most curious cat!
Beyond 2000
What will the next thousand years hold in store for us? See what futurists are predicting and give predictions of your own.
BrainPop
Brainpop is a really cool and unique site full of animated health and science movies, and fun quizzes.
Bill Nye the Science Guy
Learn about Bill Nye the Science Guy and his show, choose from 40 'Home Demos' you can try, watch video clips, and more.
Color Matters
Budding artists and anyone interested in color will want to see how color affects our mind and body, its use in design and art, plus lots more. Explains additive and subtractive color systems, how the eye sees colors, and how other cultures view and use colors.
Cool Science for Curious Kids
Includes five interactive activities for kids. From the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Dr. Bob's Interesting Science Stuff
Investigate interesting (hence the name) and unusual scientific topics. Includes 'Ask Dr. Bob' and 'Did You Know' sections.
Exploring Leonardo
Learn about Leonardo da Vinci, his futuristic inventions, and unique way of looking at the world at this attractive site.
Extreme Science
Where is the deepest spot in the ocean? Which creature is the strongest? Want to know what the fastest land animal is? Take a look at this site for answers to these and other scientific record-breakers!
FT Exploring
A fun-filled science site that explores energy and other basic scientific principles. Topics include sections on "super bugs", photosynthesis, marine science, and more. Know-it-all tortoise, Dr. Galapagos provides humorous and insightful answers to science questions.
Funology.com
At Funology, science is all about having fun! But that's not all. Besides fun facts and experiments you can perform, you'll also find crafts, recipes, magic tricks, jokes, and a whole lot more.
Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century
In 1900, life was a constant struggle. 100 years later, the world was a healthier, safer, and more productive place, due to the hard work of engineers and scientists. From electrification, to the automobile, to computers, learn how engineering has changed and improved our lives.
How Stuff Works
Curious about what makes things tick? How Stuff Works brings you hundreds of articles that cover a wide range of subjects like 3-D graphics, animals, video games, engines, roller coasters, toys, electricity, computers, and much more. (For a "huge list" of every article on the site, click here.)
Human Anatomy Online
Take a tour of the human body. This site offers a fun, interactive way to learn about skeletal, digestive, muscular, and other body systems.
Infrared Zoo
The Infrared Zoo shows what animals look like in a whole different light. See what birds, reptiles, and mammals look like in the infrared, and learn how animals use fur, blubber, and feathers to insulate themselves.
Planetpals Earthzone
Join Earthman, Sunnyray, Fluffy, and the rest of the Planetpals gang to learn all about our planet, weather, and ways you can recycle and conserve the earth's resources. You'll also find sections with crafts you can make, games, coloring pages, and lots of other fun stuff. Like the Planetpals say, "a friend for earth is a friend for life!"
Popular Science
You'll always find plenty of cool and interesting things to read at Popular Science Magazine's web site. Articles on science, space, the Internet, computers, and more are all here to help keep you informed of the latest advances in technology.
Questacon
Have fun with puzzles and activities, look at illusions, visit a dinosaur exhibit and StarLab. Sections for Grown-ups and Teachers too. Some sections require Shockwave and other plug-ins.
The Revolutionaries
Silicon Valley, (home of KidSites.com!), is a well-known oasis of technical innovation. This site interviews such famous 'overachievers' such as Steve Wozniak (Apple), Nolan Bushnell (Atari), and 16 others, to find out how they turned their budding ideas into reality, changing the world for the rest of us in the process.
Robot Constructor
Construct a virtual robot and use it to collect golden cubes scattered around a variety of hostile zones. Each zone requires a robot with different skills, so choose its power supply, sensors, material and mobile abilities carefully.
The Rudiments of Wisdom Encyclopedia
Includes thousands of cartoons covering almost anything you'd like to know! Originally drawn over a period of 14 years for the Observer newspaper, you'll find information on animals, art, entertainment, music, science, sports and 16 other subjects.
The Science Explorer
Using common household items, make a salt volcano, a roto-coptor, or one of over 25 other projects at this nice site.
Time for Kids
Do you have a nose for news? Time Magazine's site for kids has science, entertainment, and world news, along with research and homework help, places to explore, online games, and more!
Science Made Simple
Simple answers to common science questions, plus fun science projects, experiments, and science news.
The Science of Hockey
Join the Exploratorium and San Jose Sharks as they explain the science behind the equipment used in the game, how to slap a puck 100 miles per hour, how players stay in shape, and more.
ScienceMonster.com
Learn about our solar system, take a star tour, see how gravity and inertia work, play a fun lunar lander game, and more at this site by the makers of CoolMath.com.
Sea and Sky
Take your pick and explore the beauty of the sea, or the wonders of the universe. Sea and Sky is an incredible resource, providing extensive information on the mysteries of each in amazing detail.
Skateboard Science
See how skateboards are made and learn about the science behind how tricks like the ollie are done. Includes videos plus a skateboarding glossary.
Strange Science
Scientists didn't always get things quite right and this site shows some of the blunders they made in their quest for knowledge. Included is a timeline of significant historical and scientific events, biographies of noted scientists and artists, and resources you can use to learn more.
Triumph of the Nerds
Take a look at the history of computers and some of the "nerds" who contributed to their existence, play a game of "Guess the Computer" to see how much nerd potential you have, read the detailed transcripts from the TV program that this site is based on, and more.
Volcanoes
Learn how volcanoes form, see what happens when a volcano erupts, and find out what scientists are doing to better understand and predict when a volcano will erupt.
Volcano World
Lots of interesting information about volcanoes including those currently erupting, volcanoes on other planets, and volcano images and video clips.
Your Weight On Other Worlds
Did you know that a person who weighs 120 pounds on earth, would weigh just 8 pounds on Pluto? Enter your weight at this site and you'll be able to see how much you would weigh on 16 other planets, moons, or even stars!