Critical and Inventive Thinking

Critical and inventive thinking are closely related to one another. In inventive (or creative) thinking we generate ideas, approaches, new solutions, new responses to issues and problems. In critical (or effective) thinking, we evaluate those new ideas approaches, solutions, and responses to see which are worth pursuing, which make sense, which are likely in fact to work out. The two modes of thinking work hand-in-hand.

Most of this is usually unconscious in us, something we do without thinking about it or focusing on it. But making it explicit in our thinking provides major benefits. It works far better than just waiting for an idea magically to come, or using a hit-or-miss process such as brainstorming or associative thinking. Consciously and explicitly using processes of critical and inventive thinking allows us to come up with more and better ideas, to explore alternatives, to face up to what we don't know about an issue or situation and use that unknown part to generate ideas that we would not have found otherwise.

Participants will:

1. work together to formulate an account of what critical thinking is, what inventive thinking is, and of the relationship between the two;
2. state, elaborate, exemplify and illustrate both critical thinking and inventive or creative thinking as they apply specifically to the courses and classes they teach;
3. construct examples of assignments students can use to practice their inventiveness and criticality;
4. apply the elements of reasoning—purpose, question at issue, implications, assumptions, conclusions, information, concepts and point of view—to generate approaches to teaching and learning that are both inventive and well-reasoned.

About the Presenter: Dr. Gerald Nosich

Dr. Gerald Nosich is a noted authority on critical thinking and has given more than 250 workshops on all aspects of teaching critical thinking. Since the mid-1980s he has become committed to teaching critical thinking across the curriculum. He is convinced that the only way for students to learn a subject matter is to think their way through it. He is the author of Reasons and Arguments (Wadsworth, 1982).  His second book, Learning to Think Things Through: A Guide to Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum, has been translated into Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic.

Dr. Nosich has given workshops for instructors at all levels of education in Singapore, the U.S., Canada, Thailand, Lithuania, Austria, and Germany.  He has worked with the U.S. Department of Education on a project for National Assessment of Higher Order Thinking Skills; given teleconferences sponsored by PBS and Starlink on teaching critical thinking within subject-matter courses; served as a consultant/evaluator for SACS Accreditation of programs at various colleges and universities emphasizing critical thinking; and has been featured as a Noted Scholar at the University of British Columbia. He is the author of numerous articles, audio and video tapes on critical thinking. He has been Assistant Director at the Center for Critical Thinking at Sonoma State University, and is an associate of the Center and the Foundation for Critical Thinking.  Dr. Nosich is Professor Emeritus at Buffalo State College in NY, and Professor Emeritus at the University of New Orleans.

Dr. Nosich has not only focused on teaching critical thinking skills in subject-specific areas, but is also adept at teaching critical thinking across the curriculum.  Dr. Nosich is a witty presenter whose down-to-earth sense of humor adds spice to his practical insights.

Click here to watch Dr Nosich in action

Registration Details

Course Code: CT290523

Topic: Critical and Inventive Thinking

Presenter: Professor Gerald Nosich

Date: 29 May 2023, Monday

Time: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

Mode of Delivery: Face to Face

Venue: To be confirmed

Closing date: 24 March 2023, Friday

Click Here to Register

Workshop Fee: S$650.00 per participant. If two or more participants from the same school/organization attend the same course, the discounted fee will be S$585.00 per participant for that particular course. The fee includes two tea breaks and one lunch. The fee is subject to GST.

Other Information: Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis. No refunds will be made for cancellations or in the case of absentees. The Academy accepts replacements for registered participants who cannot attend for whatever reasons.

School/Cluster-Based Workshop Registration
Please contact Joseph Loy by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or tel: 6363 0330 on the cost of conducting the workshop.

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