TwitterCritical Thinking Initiative in STEM (CTIS) Program
Overview
The Critical Thinking Initiative in STEM (CTIS) program is 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) aims to assist STEM faculty in developing teaching and assessment approaches specifically targeted towards enhancing critical thinking.
Participants will conduct an experiment on critical thinking in an undergraduate science, math, or engineering class that they teach. They will collect baseline data on gains in critical thinking in fall of 2011 and will implement some techniques to enhance critical thinking in the fall of 2012 to see if greater gains are made. Participants:
- Attend 4 workshops (PDF) over 2 years
- Conduct an experiment (PDF) in their own class
- Develop course-specific assessments of critical thinking based on the Critical Thinking Assessment Test (CAT)
- Consult with Searle Center for Teaching Excellence staff to develop their experiments
The Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor for STEM nominate 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.
