Critical Thinking on the Ground: Getting Past Axioms and on to Action

Presented at the Emergency Management Institute Higher Education Conference

Emmitsburg, MD, June 9, 2011

by

Al Lawrence, Jim Savitt and Rob Baker

Critical Thinking: Aristotle

Don’t believe everything you think….

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

Aristotle

2

Critical Thinking

Encourages depth of thought

Requires questioning and skepticism

Calls for judgment, reason and logic

Evaluates evidence in search for viewpoints and truth

Promotes civic responsibility and citizenship

Promotes better writing

Critical Thinking… Depth of Thought

Dilbert from 31 March 2011

4

Critical Thinking: Provides Ability to…

Identify Issues Articulate Assumptions Integrate Other Perspectives Communicate Develop a Position or Hypothesis Analyze and Present Supporting Data Draw Conclusions / Implications

Critical Thinking: Rationality

Dilbert (from Pactiss.org website)

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Strategies

Discussions: Online Face-to-Face

Exercises: Structured / Project Planning Debates Case Studies Team Based Activities

Why Teamwork?

Employers seek graduates with improved skills and content knowledge

Students develop core competencies of: Organization Leadership Collaboration Trust

(See Naim Kapucu , “Developing Competency-Based Emergency Management Degree Programs in Public Affairs and Administration”, presented at 14th annual Emergency Management Higher Education Conference, Emmitsburg, MD, 10 June 2010)

Educational Values

Constructivist Principles / Collaborative Learning

Student-centered / Shared Responsibility

Teaches the Value of Teamwork

Promotes Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Advantages

Two heads are better than one

Higher marks

Learn more

Learn about working together

Critical Thinking, Economics, and Teamwork

Dilbert from 13 March 2011

11

Needed for Success

Time Management

Planning

Coordination

Role Allocation

Cooperation

Setting Ground Rules

Be punctual

Prepare for meetings

Complete work on time

Value diversity, strength of member / respect

Be honest

Keep everyone informed

Participate in meeting / play an active role

Value Consensus

Critical Issues Exercise

Think – Discuss – Share

Critical Thinking: Alternative Points of View

Dilbert from 3 April 2011

15

Thought Starters

What questions does this case exercise raise for: Law Enforcement (mission) Civil Liberties Federalism State and Local Governmental jurisdictions Homeland Security (mission) Community Politics

After 9/11, the federal government announced a major program to conduct "voluntary" interviews with 5,000 holders of temporary visas from Arab countries thought to have significant ties to Al Qaeda. The Justice Department wanted local law enforcement personnel to conduct these interviews, with federal agents playing a supporting role. In Dearborn, Michigan, where the population of individuals of Arab descent has grown to nearly 30 percent since the 1960s, city and police officials resisted this plan. They insisted that the feds conduct the interviews (in plain clothes), supported by the local police and monitored by them to make sure that the feds acted professionally. The locals also got the feds to abandon the idea of unannounced calls and agree to schedule visits via letters, stressing that the interviews were voluntary and that there was no reason to suspect the individuals being interviewed of terrorist activities. (Source: Thacher, David: "The Local Role in Homeland Security," 39 Law and Society Review 635-76 [September 2005]).

Dearborn Case Study

Critical Thinking: Alternative Points of View, Cont.

Dilbert from 17 April 2011

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Critical Thinking: Speaker's Motivation

Dilbert from 25 March 2011

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Critical Thinking: Reality Check

Dilbert from 29 March 2011

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Critical Thinking: A Knowledge Base

Dilbert from 14 April 2011

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Critical Thinking: Ask Why

Get Fuzzy 14 May 2011

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