Center for Instructional
Innovation and Assessment
INNOVATIVE TEACHING SHOWCASE
2000
2001
Institutional Goals
Listed below are selected learning outcomes in the area of critical thinking that Western Washington University is actively integrating into its curriculum. Dr. Hansen's unique inquiry-based teaching method assists students in critically evaluating their course materials. Each learning outcome is listed with its definition, along with a description of how Dr. Hansen's courses meet each of these student learning outcome goals.Critical Thinking
| Learning Outcomes | Definition | Course Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Identification | Accurately identifies and interprets evidence. | Dr. Hansen presents evidence in class from both the fossil record and the modern era and directs the inquiry into an initial interpretation. |
| Alternative Consideration | Considers major alternative points of view. | Students are encouraged to present alternative interpretations and to elaborate on the initial interpretations of the evidence. |
| Accurate Conclusions | Draws warranted, judicious, non-fallacious conclusions. | During the course of the class discussion of the evidence, Dr. Hansen guides the discussion to a more reasoned, inclusive hypothesis. |
| Justification | Justifies key results and procedures, and explains assumptions and reasons. | Dr. Hansen elaborates on the difference between evidence and making assumptions based on evidence. He also encourages students not to make assumptions that go beyond the available evidence. |
Source: Adapted from the California Academic Press's Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric (HCTSR).
Source: Adapted from Western Washington University's Learning Outcomes for Writing II.
ISSN: 2374-9415
Unless otherwise noted, the Innovative Teaching Showcase created by the Center for Instructional Innovation and Assessment at Western Washington University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.