Critical Thinking in Discussions
Practicing critical thinking in real time
Dear collaborative discussion friends,
This week we are highlighting an activity that helps participants practice critical thinking skills in real time while in dialogue with others. Often, critical thinking skills are focused around reading and analyzing written text. This activity introduces participants to an adapted CLUE approach so they can critically analyze and respond to what is being said during a discussion.
This activity is contributed by Jessica Friedrichs, Assistant Professor & Director of Undergraduate Social Work Field Education at Carlow University and Co-founder of the Cultural Humility & Equity Collaborative. It is one of the many activities in the Critical Collaboration Module.
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This week's activity:
Activity 3.1 – Critical Thinking in Discussions
Using critical thinking while engaging in dialogue
This activity helps participants analyze the contributions of each other during a discussion. Participants are first invited to individually review a shared resource on the chosen topic and then discuss the topic as a group. They then use an adaptation of the CLUE method to consider the source, lay out the arguments, uncover the evidence, and evaluate the conclusion in real time as they continue discussing the selected topic.
Prepare for the Activity
Select a topic relevant to the group for discussion. Providing participants with a shared learning resource, such as an article, blog, video or even a meme to review before the discussion will give them something to refer to during the discussion.
Share the CLUE Worksheet with participants as handouts or a shared document.
Organize participants into small groups (4-6 ppl). Begin by introducing the learning goal of this activity:
Develop strategies to critically reflect while in discussion with others.
Critically analyze contributions while participating in discussion with others.
Break into Small Groups and Discuss the Topic & Resource
Next, invite participants to break into small groups (4-6 ppl) and engage in normal discussion of the topic. Ask participants to share their initial reactions, reflections, or opinions about the topic and the shared resource. Use the following prompts:
What is your position on this topic?
How does the shared resource support or challenge your position?
Introduce the CLUE Worksheet and Consider the Source
After the initial round of discussion, have participants refer to the worksheet and consider the source of the statements being offered. Ask participants to take a moment to review the following prompts:
How are people contributing to the discussion? Are they citing sources (external evidence)? Are they referring to personal experiences (anecdotal evidence)? Or, are they making general statements without much evidence or support?
How are people presenting their ideas? With authority? With caution or caveats? Which approach is most convincing as you hear their comments?
What authority does the person speaking have on this topic? Are they a reliable source of information?
Do the people speaking have some sort of political leaning or agenda in this discussion?
Invite participants to continue their discussion of the topic while keeping these prompts in mind and taking notes under the “C” section of the worksheet.
Lay Out the Arguments
Pause the discussion and invite participants to take a look at the next section of the worksheet focused on laying out the argument, values, and assumptions within the discussion. Ask them to review the following questions:
What is the point other participants are trying to convey? What position are they taking?
Do you agree with their argument or position? Why or why not?
What assumptions about the world does the discussant make?
What is one value you think another discussant holds? Provide evidence for this, perhaps use a quote from the discussion.
Invite participants to continue their discussion of the topic while keeping these prompts in mind and taking notes under the “L” section of the worksheet.
Uncover the Evidence in the Discussion
Once again, pause the discussion and ask participants to review the next set of prompts in the worksheet:
Which discussant is most convincing?
Does this person present evidence to back up their claims? Do they offer clear arguments?
What about their contributions seem convincing? Why are you persuaded by their contributions?
Invite participants to continue their discussion of the topic while keeping these prompts in mind and taking notes under the “U” section of the worksheet.
Evaluate the Conclusion
Have participants wrap up their discussions. Invite all participants to share a concluding thought or remark. Ask participants to reflect on the questions in the last section of the worksheet and write down their responses:
Has the group reached consensus? If not, how has the discussion group been divided? On what grounds? What drives the division?
Is one side more convincing than the other? What do you base this on?
Have you rethought any of your beliefs as a result of this discussion? What convinced or challenged you?
Debrief as a Full Group
Come back together as a full group and discuss the following questions:
Which section of this worksheet was easiest to complete during the discussion? Which section was hardest to complete in real time?
How might you use clarifying questions to insert constructive but critical questioning within a discussion?
In addition to these debriefing questions, the full description of Activity 3.1 Critical Thinking in Discussions includes reflection questions, a practice journal prompt, and additional resources to help participants dive deeper.
Dive Deeper by Pairing Activities Together
Combine Activity 3.2 Critical Feeling in Discussions with Activity 3.1 to help participants learn and practice both critical feeling and thinking in discussions. Use Jessica Friedrich’s Critical Feeling and Thinking in Discussion (Guns & Society) slide deck to pair these activities together.
If you try out this activity, please share with us what you think:
We hope this toolkit activity helps participants practice critical thinking in real time to evaluate and analyze each other’s contributions while engaged in a discussion.
Upcoming Events
The Interactivity Foundation is organizing a 3-part interactive, small group conversation series, exploring Who are We The People — and who is being pushed out? Join us for the final session on Friday, November 17 at 2pm (EDT). Invite your students! Register here.
The Interactivity Foundation is organizing the third round of sustained discussions on the topic of Learning & Society. This is an exciting opportunity to engage in discussion with educators about the future of learning in our society. Participants will be awarded a $500 honorarium. Read our previous newsletter to learn more about this discussion series. The deadline to apply is Thursday, November 30th at 5 pm EST. If you are an educator and interested in being part of this discussion series, apply here.
Congratulations to our Collaborative Discussion Coaches who are concluding a certificate program at the end of this fall semester! Please remember to email Shannon Wheatley Hartman at esw@interactivityfoundation.org to receive the link for the Retrospective Participant Survey and to have your participants complete this survey at the conclusion of your program. The results of these surveys will provide valuable feedback to help us better understand the impact of Collaborative Discussion Certificate Programs.
Looking forward to collaborating,
Ritu Thomas & the Collaborative Discussion Team