I first came across critical thinking as a formal course of study in a
business school when the MPA department introduced it as a required course
for their students. To be absolutely honest, I was embarrassed for them: I
couldn't imagine and can't imagine why post graduate students would suddenly
need to learn to be critical.
Needless to say we didn't follow suit in the MBA (or MA (Econ) for that
matter) departments.
I can, however, imagine the relevance of such a course lower down the scale
and would need to read any AS/A2 scheme carefully before damning it out of
hand.
Is it the equivalent of seeing philosophy as advanced arguing?
Duncan Williamson
-----Original Message-----
From: Economics, business, and related subjects
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anita Pincas
Sent: 05 July 2005 09:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Critical Thinking
My first instinct exactly: Where are we going with all of this?
What I mean by this is: Arent people critical anyway? I dont know many kids
who are not critical within the contexts of their own lives. Of course they
have it knocked out of them by social pressures of all kinds. So what does
a course in CT aim to do? I am really curious about this. Presumably teaches
them some logical operations, shows them how to use an appropriate kind of
literate discourse for critiques of various kinds [literature, history...]
and so forth. But does it encourage them to be critical of social
pressures? Perhaps.
This could be an interesting discussion.
Anita
Anita Pincas, Senior Lecturer,
Lifelong Education and International Development [LEID}
Institute of Education,
20 Bedford Way
University of London
London WC1H 0AL
Tel +44 0207 612 6522
Fax +44 0207-612 6467
Personal Web page < http://www.ioe.ac.uk/english/Apincas.htm
<http://www.ioe.ac.uk/english/Apincas.htm> >
Online Education and Training
and
How to Teach Language Online.
< http://www.ioe.ac.uk/english/OET.htm
<http://www.ioe.ac.uk/english/OET.htm> >
-----Original Message-----
From: Economics, business, and related subjects on behalf of Duncan
Williamson
Sent: Tue 05/07/2005 09:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc:
Subject: Re: Critical Thinking
Sorry I can't help you with the critical thinking Nicola but that
letter is
a fascination and reminds me of some of the things Julie Parton must
be
facing.
Heroic, indomitable, under enormous pressure, never been done before
are all
phrases that leap from that letter but the simple message is that
you must
toe the line.
I am also interested to read that one will need critical thinking to
get
into Cambridge, read Law ... otherwise one will be incapable.
Where are we going with all of this?
Good luck!
Duncan
-----Original Message-----
From: Economics, business, and related subjects
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nicola
Morrow
Sent: 05 July 2005 07:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fwd: Re: Critical Thinking
Does anyone on the list know anything about critical thinking? This
e-mail is from my director of studies who is intoducing critical
thinking. School policy is for no AS's in January,but she states
that
critical thinking needs to be taken in January- any similar
experiences?
Nicola Morrow
Head of Economics and Business
Epsom College
College Road
Epsom
Surrey
KT174JH
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