FCST 1010 - (All Classes) (All Campuses) - Spring 2018: Module 4

Welcome to Module 4! During this module we'll be talking about thinking and learning. If you've gotten to this point in your life you might be thinking, "Ok, I obviously already know how to think and learn - otherwise I wouldn't be here!". However, do you really understand how your brain goes about learning, encoding, and retreiving information? Or, have you ever had problems learning or remembering something? These are exactly the kinds of topics that you'll be tackling in this module. After completing this module you should be able to:

• Describe the differences between critical, practical, and creative thinking.
• Identify logical fallacies that you encounter in your readings, media, and everyday conversations.
• Apply thinking strategies to improve your school, work, and home life.
• Analyze your current levels of critical, practical, and creative thinking. 
• Defend your position on learning styles. 
• Formulate a plan of action using critical and creative thinking. 

Due This Week:

• Journal Entry #4 - Due before Thursday/Sunday at midnight
• Challenge #4 - Due before Sunday at midnight
• Going Further #4 - Due before Sunday at midnight
• Content Quiz #4 - Due by Wednesday (Instructor's Choice - Quiz or In-class Assignments)

Learning Styles

You've probably all taken learning styles inventories in school. However, did you know that there's a big debate going on right now about whether learning styles even exist? In this activity you're going to read an article that frames this debate and watch two videos that present different viewpoints on learning styles. Then we'll take a few minutes to do a think, pair, share activity where you will 1) write about your opinion based on the content you reviewed, 2) talk with one other person about your opinion, and 3) discuss your opinion as a class.

If you'd ever like to review these materials again after class the links are below. Remember that you can expand videos and prezis using the little rectangle in the lower right hand corner after you press play. 

A big goal in FCST 1010 is reflection. As a college student it's not only important to learn and do well in your classes - you must also learn to reflect on your college experience and the new attitudes, knowledge, and skills that you are gaining. Taking time to step back and think about experience will not only give you a richer experience but will also help you learn and apply knowledge. Reflection is basically the opposite of cramming for a test - it actually helps you remember and use information for a longer amount of time (hopefully a lifetime!).A great way to foster reflection is by journaling. In FCST 1010 you'll be completing a journal entry each week for Day 1 Homework.

Journal Entry #4 (32 points) - You can base this answer off a "Learning Style" inventory you have completed or you can think back through your life to answer this question......How do you learn best?

Ponder the question, "How do you learn best?"

• Think about tasks or assignments you have completed inside and outside of school throughout your life......how were you able to learn the information?

Write at least 200 words and respond to 3 students with each response at least 100 words.

Critical, Creative, and Practical Thinking

Did you know that some researchers have identified different types of thinking? In this activity we'll explore three different ways that thinking is categorized. This activity has 3 parts. First, we'll view a Prezi together and discuss the different types of thinking as a class. Next, we'll watch a short video on critical thinking and discuss. Finally, we'll watch a great TED Talk on creative thinking. While you watch this video I'd like you to practice writing down your observations to the speaker's lecture. This activity will help you do your Bag O' 10 Skills assignment. 

If you'd like to review these resources after class you can view them below. Remember that you can expand videos and prezis using the little rectangle in the lower right hand corner after you press play. 

(40 points)

There are several types of thinking that you can apply to every aspect of your life. First, critical thinking helps you make decisions based on evidence. For example, if you go to the doctor and find out that you need to lower your cholesterol you could use your critical thinking skills to research the treatment alternatives, weigh the benefits and consequences of your choices, make a finally make a choice. You could also apply this same approach to choosing articles for a research project. On the other hand, creative thinking involves coming up with innovative solutions or new approaches.

Many famous thinkers from fields as diverse as business, art, and education gained notoriety because of their creative thinking skills. Finally, practical thinking is commonly known as “street smarts” and involves getting through life successfully. After all, can you be successful in college, work, or life if you can’t get along with others, can’t get to work or school on time, or can’t manage your budget?

In this challenge you’ll work on developing your critical, creative, and practical thinking skills by examining 1 scenario from each perspective. To do this, play the game below and then answer the questions below.

http://playspent.org/

• How did you feel about this game? How did you do?
• Practical Thinking: This game mainly concerns practical thinking or “street smarts”. How successful were you in using your street smarts to survive the month?
• Critical Thinking: Although SPENT didn’t give you an opportunity to research your alternatives, you can definitely apply your critical thinking skills to this scenario. If you were the single parent in this game, what free or cheap resources would you use to help you critically think about your situation? How would you determine if these were good?
• Creative Thinking: Let’s look at this game from another angle. You now work for a non-profit agency that helps the working poor - just like the single parent in SPENT. If time, money, and staff weren’t a concern, how would you help people in this situation?

Remember your response needs to be a of minimum 500 words.

Your assignment should:

• Include a title page that is formatted in accordance with MLA style.
• Be a

• MS Word document with 1" margins all around and a 12 point serif or sans serif font.
• Properly use MLA format for information that is not your own thoughts.
  • For assistance with MLA formatting visit the Purdue Owl Site.
• Here is a list of serif and sans serif fonts:

• • Arial
  • Book Antiqua
  • Calibri
  • Comic Sans MS
  • Courier New
  • Georgia
  • Helvetica
  • Tahoma
  • Times New Roman
  • Trebuchet MS
  • Verdana

Critical and analytical thinking are skills that are hugely beneficial not only to a person's academic career but their professional live as well. It has become common practice to use standardized tests to determine a person's level of analytical skills. Tests such as the GRE, SAT and ACT tend to strike fear into the hearts of the perspective test takers. Having been someone who has taken their fair share of standardized tests I can say with confidence the least intimidating one is the Miller Analogy Test. (16 points)

According to Pearson (2016), the Miller Analogy Test

• is a high-level mental ability test requiring the solution of problems stated as analogies.
• is designed to reflect candidates’ analytical thinking, an ability that is critical for success in both graduate school and professional life.
• scores help graduate schools identify candidates whose knowledge and abilities go beyond mere memorizing and repeating information.
• measures analytical skills that are key to success in graduate school and are highly valued by graduate programs.
• has shown positive correlations between its scores and subsequent success in graduate programs

As part of this Going Further Assignment, you will take a practice Miller Analogy Test. DON'T PANIC! It is only 15 questions and the scores you achieve on the practice test will have NO BEARING on you score for this assignment.

Here are the directions:

1. Go the MajorTests Practice Miller Analogy Tests site
2. Review the Solving Miller Analogies page before you take these practice tests
3. Take at least one practice test, but feel free to take more if you find it fun :)
4. Once you have completed the Practice Test, take a screen shot of your score and upload it to the drop box
5. The screen shot must include: Practice Test # (at the top), all of the questions and the score. See attached example.

That is it!!!!