TwitterCritical Thinking Initiative in STEM (CTIS) Program
Overview
The Critical Thinking Initiative in STEM (CTIS) program was a two-year program for STEM faculty at Northwestern University and the City Colleges of Chicago. Established in 2010, this NSF-funded program (DUE-0942404) aimed to assist STEM faculty in developing teaching and assessment approaches specifically targeted towards enhancing critical thinking.
Participants conducted an experiment on critical thinking in an undergraduate science, math, or engineering class that they taught. They collected baseline data on gains in critical thinking in fall of 2011 and implemented some techniques to enhance critical thinking in the fall of 2012 to see if greater gains were made. Participants:
- Attended 4 workshops (PDF) over 2 years
- Conducted an experiment (PDF) in their own class
- Developed course-specific assessments of critical thinking based on the Critical Thinking Assessment Test (CAT)
- Consulted with Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching staff to develop their experiments
The Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor for STEM nominated faculty to participate based on their expertise in STEM teaching and ability to enhance development of critical thinking skills in students.
For more information, contact Denise Drane, d-drane@northwestern.edu or 847-467-2338.
