+ Critical Thinking and Online Research Unit 7

+ What is Critical Thinking? Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness. Paul, R. and Scriven, M., (1987) Defining Critical Thinking. Retrieved September 9, 2009, from The Critical Thinking Community. Website

+ Understand how to Think Relate the new information to your own experiences or other things you’ve learned. Translate it into your own words. Do not parrot what is in the text or what your classmates say. Keep an open mind.

+ Understand how to Think Try to have a holistic as well as a personal view. Try to communicate in your writing how your ideas progress from one point to the other. Pay attention to the comments and insights of your instructor, as well as your classmates. Power Up: A Practical Student's Guide to Online Learning, by Stacey Barrett, Catrina Poe, and Carrie Spagnola-Doyle. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.

+ Do you consider yourself a Critical Thinker?

+ Critical Thinking The basis of critical thinking is questioning. Try to remember not to just take information at face value. Power Up: A Practical Student's Guide to Online Learning, by Stacey Barrett, Catrina Poe, and Carrie Spagnola-Doyle. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc

+ Consider these questions Ask : Is this correct? Who is saying it and why? Who are they saying it to? What perspective is being put forward? What other perspectives exist that might be relevant? What sounds right about this to you and what sounds wrong, and why? Why would someone want you to believe this?

+ Ask Questions Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if you do not obtain sufficient answers. Asking can help you gain clarity about the important concepts. Questioning is also a valuable way to decipher your own views about the information presented in class. Remember, asking questions does not mean just interrogating your instructor and classmates. Power Up: A Practical Student's Guide to Online Learning, by Stacey Barrett, Catrina Poe, and Carrie Spagnola-Doyle. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc

+ Ask Questions Questioning means: Being open to letting others question you. Questioning your own opinions and preconceived notions, trying to determine their origins truthfully. Responding thoughtfully to others’ questions can also clarify your own reasoning. Power Up: A Practical Student's Guide to Online Learning, by Stacey Barrett, Catrina Poe, and Carrie Spagnola-Doyle. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc

+ Internet Research Search Engines Search engines are the tools you use on the Web to lead you to information, such as Google, Alta Vista, Ask.com, and Yahoo! Individual search engines are the most basic ones--they search the whole web. Metasearch engines are those that actually search (and usually organize) the results from other search engines. Decide what type of search engine is right for your purposes before you begin your research. Ex. Dogpile.com, AskJeeves.com, AllDeal.com, etc. Power Up: A Practical Student's Guide to Online Learning, by Stacey Barrett, Catrina Poe, and Carrie Spagnola-Doyle. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc

+ The Credibility of Information Online Finding current, accurate information is better than to find lots of information. Just because something is posted online doesn’t mean it is accurate and valid. Do not take everything you find on the Web at face value. The safest source for any information is the primary source. Primary, is the place where the information was first expressed or put into print. Alternately, if you use a book or magazine article that summarizes the findings of a bunch of music therapy research, then you are using a secondary source. A secondary source is one that just restates information from its first occurrence. Power Up: A Practical Student's Guide to Online Learning, by Stacey Barrett, Catrina Poe, and Carrie Spagnola-Doyle. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc

+ The Credibility of Information Online The further you are from the primary source of information, the more likely there may be errors or oversights in the information. Never assume that the first site to come up in search results will be correct and enough for your needs. Read through as many of them as you can. Try the search again using terms that are synonyms. Do your best to gain a well-rounded view of the information that is available. Power Up: A Practical Student's Guide to Online Learning, by Stacey Barrett, Catrina Poe, and Carrie Spagnola-Doyle. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc

+ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Plagiarizing is when you copy the words or the thoughts of someone else and do not tell people that those words or thoughts were not originally your own. Plagiarism is always a serious offense. The way to avoid plagiarizing is to correctly (and always) cite your sources. Power Up: A Practical Student's Guide to Online Learning, by Stacey Barrett, Catrina Poe, and Carrie Spagnola-Doyle. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc

+ Kaplan’s Plagiarism Policy Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and may result in the following sanctions: 1st offense: Failure of the assignment in which the action occurred. 2nd offense: Failure of the class in which the action occurred. 3rd offense: Expulsion or permanent dismissal from the University. Kaplan’s Plagiarism Policy is detailed in your syllabus. Make sure you take time to read it.