Building Strong Critical and Creative Thinkers Through a Dynamic Approach to Learning

Since its inception in 1996, the Foundations Program has been helping students learn to think critically and to develop essential study skills.   With the coming of globalization and the “Flat World,” we are charged with a new task: to prepare students for a changing world with increased competition for jobs and resources.  Such 21st century thinking skills as collaboration, problem-solving, and learning about learning are therefore vital to a student’s success in college and beyond. Through a combination of professional development, parent workshops, student classes, and one-on-one consultations, the Foundations Program promotes Critical Thinking, 21st Century Thinking Skills, Study Skills, and Meta-cognition.

Critical Thinking Evaluating products, ideas, and opinions In an age of instant access to an ever-increasing amount of information, it is now more important than ever to be able to think clearly and critically.  As learners, we must constantly ask ourselves: What am I looking at? What is the source? Is it credible? Who is the author? What biases exist?  Students who are pushed to ask such questions and to answer them through their own process of discovery are better prepared to navigate this growing and changing world. 21st Century Skills Thinking skills that will help students succeed in a global climate of increased competition and change “We are preparing students for jobs that do not exist yet, that will use technologies that have not been invented yet, in order to solve problems that are not even problems yet.”  ~From a popular youtube video entitled “Shift Happens” (http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/) Our world is changing rapidly, and our students need an education that will help them adapt to these changes. The ability to collaborate, solve problems, and think divergently are just a few of the 21st century thinking skills that will be in high demand among colleges and employers. Study Skills Managing time and materials effectively; knowing how to study and prepare for tests; taking effective notes from lecture or discussion The process of learning is not just about accumulating knowledge from various subjects. It is about developing vital academic skills that will come into play for the rest of our lives. What is the main idea of this article? How do I organize myself so that I can locate what I need when I need it? How do I break this formidable task down into smaller, more doable components? When students internalize these important study skills, academic challenges become less daunting, and academic tasks, more manageable. Meta-cognition Learning about learning; being intentional about how we think, not just what we think about With a faculty committed to learning about learning, our students engage in meaningful reflection not just on what they learn but how they learn it.  Every full time teacher at CFA receives training on teaching to reach every student, regardless of learning style or preference.