Bold fusion, version for Teaching & Learning conference, Jacksonville, FL, 2012

1. Ludic learning for life:
happily marrying
science + criticism online
KA Watson, Coastline CC 1

2. Happily marrying….
Scientific thinking... and
Critical thinking... for:
Thinking!
KA Watson, Coastline CC 2

3. Marrying our thought processes
Scientific thinking helps us to…
–Evaluate/test theories of cause & effect
–Discern correlation/causation in hypotheses
–Use an empirical process
–Make claims that are testable
KA Watson, Coastline CC 3

4. Marrying our thought processes
Critical thinking helps us to …
Identify a problem
Devise a supposition
Verify the applicability of a supposition
Interpret, re-interpret, & analyze solutions
Select, optimize, & implement best solutions
KA Watson, Coastline CC 4

5. Espousing: The Scientific Method
What?
Etymologically scientia
Who has used it?
Egyptians, Greeks, Islamists, Occidentals
Why?
To analyze selves & environs
How used, in exact sciences and…
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6. The dowry: Scientific Method
Commonly cited steps
Formulate a question
Do research
Construct a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis
Analyze the test results
Hone the hypothesis
Communicate the findings
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7. Espousing: Critical thinking
What?
- ability & disposition to improve thinking
- systematic intellectual self-assessment
Who uses it?
- parents, citizens, friends, lovers, consumers
Why?
- to evaluate, discern subjective & objective
How used, in human sciences and….
7
KA Watson, Coastline CC

8. Wedded! Defining critical thought (CT)
chez Reichenbach:
Analyze, integrate, evaluate
chez Guffy:
Pinpoint the problem
Learn more, seek possible causes
Evaluate the evidence
Consider alternative solutions & implications
Choose & implement a solution
KA Watson, Coastline CC 8

9. A six-step plan to marry SM & CT
everywhere:
Consistency
Observability
Naturalness
Predictability
Replicability
Tentativity
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10. Point #1: Consistency
…in scientific thought, the scientific method
…in STEM
…in critical thinking
Question: How can/do we reconcile logical
coherence, recognizability, and novelty?
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11. Point #2: Observability
…in “scientific thought”, scientific method
…in STEM
…in critical thinking
Question: How do we notice what, at once
collecting the catalysts & then creating?
KA Watson, Coastline CC 11

12. Point #3: Naturalness
…in scientific thought, scientific method
…in STEM
…in critical thinking
Question: How do we define what is
“natural”? How do we recognize
“naturalness”?
KA Watson, Coastline CC 12

13. Point #4: Predictability
…in scientific thought, scientific method
…in STEM
…in critical thinking
Question: Can it be determined what will happen
next? Should this be possible?
KA Watson, Coastline CC 13

14. Point #5: Replicability
…in scientific thought, scientific method
…in STEM
…in critical thinking
Question: Given the same
environment, circumstances, experimental
conditions, will others arrive at the same
conclusions? KA Watson, Coastline CC 14

15. Point #6: Tentativity
…in scientific thought, the scientific method
…in STEM
…in critical thinking
Question: how are tenacity and tentativity both to
be accommodated?
KA Watson, Coastline CC 15

16. Critical scientific thought: 6 ways wed
Get the attitude, the ethic of the critical thinker
Practice reasoning & decision-making
Train in cross-disciplinary applications
Become self-aware & reflective
Test ideas & retain only the distilled ones
Never stop asking questions
KA Watson, Coastline CC 16