Broadcast on March 11, 2023
Developing Critical Thinkers in the Digital Age
Rebecca O’Brien
Whitworth University
Description
The rapid development of online media and increased Internet access has created a firehose of consumable information. How do we teach students to think critically about that information, examining multiple perspectives and identifying their own biases? Mandated curriculum, limited time flexibility, and lack of resources often restrict teachers’ ability to prioritize teaching critical thinking and problem solving skills in the classroom. In this webinar, we explore ways to engage students in developing the skills of critical thought (interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and self-regulation) while encouraging the dispositions of successful critical thinkers and consumers of information.
About the presenter
Rebecca O’Brien is an Assistant Professor of Graduate Studies in Education, the Director for the Center for Gifted Education, and the Program Director for Gifted Education and Equitable Instruction at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Her work primarily focuses on identifying and encouraging high potential in students from diverse backgrounds, improving teacher preparation, aligning instruction to assessment, and supporting in-service teacher learning and instruction. Prior to becoming a professor, she served as a math, science, and robotics teacher in an urban middle school.