GT101: LEARNING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

MEETING 3
CHAPTER 5: BECOME A CRITICAL THINKER AND CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVER
CHAPTER 6: EXCEL AT TAKING TESTS

Prepared by:
GT101 Team – AOU, Kuwait branch
Based on the content of GT101 smart book @McGraw-Hill Education
CHAPTER 5: BECOME A CRITICAL THINKER AND CREATIVE
PROBLEM SOLVER
Learning Outcomes:
• Identify the essentials of critical thinking.
• Explain the problem-solving process
• Identify critical thinking and problem-solving strategies
• Describe common fallacies and errors in judgment
• Explain the importance of creativity in problem solving
• Identify problem-solving strategies for mathematics and science
• Identify ways to enable creativity

2
ESSENTIAL CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

• What is critical thinking?

- Critical thinking is a logical, rational, systematic thought process.
• Why we need critical thinking?
- Critical thinking help us in understanding, analyzing, and evaluating
information to solve a problem.
• Problem solving is creating or identifying a solution to a question or a
problem.
• Decision making is determining or selecting the best or most
effective answer or solution.
3
ESSENTIAL CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS: BLOOM’S TAXONOMY

4
CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING STEPS

Clearly state the problem.

e.g. I have missed 3 classes.

Gather all the information you need to solve the

problem.
e.g. review the reasons and the consequences of
missing a class.
Find a Strategy.
e.g. asking the advisor, getting involved in group
study etc.
Think why this plan is better than other options.
e.g. ask yourself is this is the best solution?
Will you meet your goals by following this plan? 5
CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES

• Have a positive attitude

- Your attitude influences how you solve a problem. (Check the figure, next slide) .
• Ask questions
- It is difficult to solve a problem without knowing all the facts and opinions.
• Persistence pays off
- Sometimes you’ll need a second or third try.
• Use creativity
- Think in new and fresh ways.
6
CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES

• Pay attention
- Pay attention to all details.
• See all sides of the issue
- Listen to all opinions.
• Use reasoning
- Do not jump to conclusions, explore all options. Two types of reasoning
inductive and deductive (discussed later)
• Be rested and healthy
- Your health effects your decisions. 7
CHARACTERISTICS OF A CRITICAL THINKING

8
Attributes of a critical thinker
USE REASONING

• Inductive reasoning: generalizing from specific concepts to broad

principle.
- e.g. generalizing an experience, having a bad experience with one math
class, you might reason inductively that all math classes are bad.
- Note: inductive reasoning can contain some errors, such as coming to
conclusion too quickly.
• Deductive reasoning: drawing conclusions based on going from the
general to the specific.
- e.g. all men are mortal, Sami is a man, therefore Sami is mortal.
- Note: don’t assume that the main premise is always true.
9
COMMON ERRORS IN JUDGMENT

Some common errors in judgment that interfere with effective critical thinking:
• Stereotypes: judgments held by a person or group about members of another group.
• All-or-nothing thinking: seeing events or people in black or white.
• Snap judgments: decisions made before gathering all necessary information.
• Projection: to attribute to others some of your traits to justify your faulty judgments or
actions.
• Sweeping generalizations: apply one experience to a whole group or issue.
• Halo effect: to label a person good based on one or two qualities or actions.
• Negative labeling: is focusing on and identifying with shortcoming, e.g. instead of
saying “I made a mistake” you say, “I am looser”.
10
CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
Strategies to unlock your mind’s natural creativity:

1. Expect to be creative (reinforce your6. Collect ideas.

creativity). 7. Relax and trust.
2. Challenge the rules (try new approach). 8. Support, acknowledge, and reward
3. Use games, puzzles, and humor (have creativity.
fun). 9. Allow failure.
4. Brainstorm (be free to express ideas to10. Be disciplined and persistent (be hard
your study group). worker).
5. Be flexible, positive, and grateful.

11
MATH AND SCIENCE APPLICATIONS
• Problem-Solving Strategies for Math and Science include:
─ Make a model or diagram: it helps in organizing and visualizing the problem.
─ Draw, illustrate, and make tables, charts, or lists: it helps in organizing and therefore look
for patterns.
─ Look for patterns and connections: a pattern is regular, systematic repletion that helps
you in predictions.
─ Act out the problem: physically act out the problem sometimes it help in finding the
solution.
─ Simplify: solve related easier cases.
─ Translate words into equations: write an equation that model the problem.
─ Estimate, make a reasonable guess, check the guess, and revise: e.g. if we say Sami is
older than Sarah (9yrs Old) but younger than Ali (11yrs Old) then you can guess that Sami
is about 10yrs Old.
─ Summarize in a group: working in group can help you learn.
─ Take a quick break: it help in refreshing. 12
OVERCOME MATH AND SCIENCE ANXIETY

• Do your prep work: take prerequisites first.

• Keep up and review often: night before exam is just for reviewing not
learning.
• Discipline yourself: concentrate on your tasks.
• Study in groups: choose supportive environment.
• Have a positive attitude: focus on positive feelings.
• Dispute the myths: fears are caused by myths.
• Ask for help: ask your tutor, your group.
13
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES: BUILDING BETTER HABITS

• Use the power of habits to make 2

creativity routine behavior start by
reflecting on what triggers your
creativity.
• e.g. if you feel to be more creative
when go for an early jog, then: 1 3
- jogging became your trigger
- early jogging outdoor is your
routine
- feeling relaxed is your reward.

14
CHAPTER 6: EXCEL AT TAKING TESTS

Learning Outcomes:
• Describe strategies for taking tests.
• Identify ways to overcome test anxiety and obstacles.

15
INTRODUCTION

• Taking tests is a part of school,

performance reviews are part of any
job.
• In this chapter, we explore some test-
taking strategies that help you in both
school and your career.
• We will concentrate on the test-taking
strategies that you need to
follow before, during and after the
test.

16
TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES: BEFORE THE TEST

1. Start on day one: attend first class, setup review schedule.

2. Know expectations: a large part of fears come from unknown after attending first class
you will know about what is excepted (course syllabus, test format etc.).
3. Ask questions in class: if any point is unclear ask about clarification during or at the
end of the class.
4. Keep up: keep up daily reading, setting up a schedule
will help.
5. Review immediately: review before and after your
classes (5 to 10 min is often enough)
6. Review weekly: spend about an hour weekly to
review subject martial.
17
TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES: BEFORE THE TEST

7. Do a final review: do a major review A week or before a test. Practice test questions.
8. Use memory techniques: remember key terms.
9. Create sample tests: predict questions (group work can be helpful)
10. Summarize: write key concepts on a note card.
11. Use your study team: use your study team to share questions and discuss answers.
12. Use all available resources: classes, learning centers etc..
13. Assemble what you will need: e.g. pen, calculator etc.

14. Use technology: e.g. smartphone, tablet etc.

18
TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES: DURING THE TEST
• In exams we have different types of questions (e.g. Multiple choice, true
false, matching, essay and fill in blank).
• The followings are some strategies to consider when taking test:
1. Read and listen to all instructions.
2. Write down key information.
3. Scan the entire test.
4. Check the weight of each question and allocate time accordingly.
5. Answer objective questions then essay questions.
6. Go from easy to difficult.
7. Read each question carefully.
8. In some type of questions you may eliminate some choices.
9. Review before you submit the test. 19
TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES: AFTER THE TEST

You need to follow these strategies after the test when you receive the grade:
1. Analyze and assess.
- Confirm your grade.
- Determine common types of mistakes.
- Learn what to do differently next time.
2. Review with your instructor.
3. Review the test with your study team.

20
OVERCOME OBSTACLES: BUILD BETTER TEST HABITS

• A peak performer learns to manage

2
anxiety and knows that being
prepared is the road to test-taking
success.
• e.g. consider the case when you think
about upcoming tests, then: 1 3
- the trigger is the emotion of
anxiety.
- your new routine should include
preparing for the test.
- your reward is a good grade.

21
OVERCOME OBSTACLES: CHEATING

• There is no excuse for cheating, cheating

only hurts you because it:
- Violates your integrity.
- Erodes confidence.
- Creates academic problems.
- Increases stress.
- Brings high risks.

22
PLAGIARISM

• Plagiarism is when you use someone else’s ideas in your writing

without acknowledging your source.
• Plagiarism has many forms:
– Copying in part or full from anyone, including friends, classmates,
and internet sources.
– Copying word-for-word without using quotation marks and not
citing the source.
– Paraphrasing by replacing few words or rearranging sentences and
not citing the source.
23
HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM?

1. When quoting word-for-word:

• Quoting means copying parts of the text for the purpose of presenting
the author’s actual words.
• To avoid plagiarism: use quotation marks “ ” to frame the quoted text
and cite the source in the text after the quote, using standard format of:
author’s surname, initial. (date of publication). title of the work. name
and location of publishers. page numbers. of the material you are
borrowing.
• Failure to provide citation will be interpreted as plagiarism, even if the
source is in your bibliography.
24
HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM?

2. When paraphrasing:
• Paraphrasing should not include the words of the original text nor
follow the same sentence structure.
• To avoid plagiarism: use your own words to produce the ideas that you
read and avoid using statements in the original form without putting
them in quotes.
• Paraphrased information should be accompanied by citation in the text
after the paraphrased section, otherwise it will be interpreted as
plagiarism even if the source is in your bibliography.
25
HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM?

3. When citing Websites:

• Use the following structure:
Website name, (Year published). Page title. [online] Available at: URL
[Accessed Day Mo. Year].
• Example:
Mms.com, (2019). M&M'S Official Website. [online] Available at:
http://www.mms.com/ [Accessed 20 Apr. 2019].

26
PENALTIES OF PLAGIARISM

• Plagiarism is an act of theft of intellectual property and academic

institutions are applying severe penalties to students whose
works are plagiarized.
• Penalties can range from discounting the work to failing the
course.
• Refer to the following link to learn how to create a bibliography,
citations, and references using MS Word.
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/create-a-bibliography-citations-and-
references-17686589-4824-4940-9c69-342c289fa2a5?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US
27