1. Gavin Brown Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education 20th January 2017
English Language Centre - EAP Conference Critical Thinking in Higher Education – Outcomes and Opportunities
Gavin Brown
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education
20th January 2017
Critical thinking = understanding, analysis, evaluation
A member of the Russell Group

2. The brief from Ted how CT might enhance teaching and learning? TEF
employability and the expectations of employers
the role of inter-departmental collaborations in exploring issues of teaching and learning

3. Outcome - what do academics want so see?
Analysis
Use of judgement
Logical reasoning
Problem solving
Prediction
Synthesis
Application of knowledge
Evaluation
Confidence and challenge
Make quality judgements
… etc

4. Outcome - what do employers want?
The same thing as academics!
“Employers expect graduates to have technical and discipline competences from their degrees but require graduates also to demonstrate a range of broader skills and attributes that include team-working, communication, leadership, critical thinking, problem solving and managerial abilities.”
Edge/SCRE Centre 2011
Employers’ perceptions of the employability skills of new graduates

5. The Liverpool Hallmarks
All our programmes will be student-centred and underpinned by:
Research-connected teaching
Authentic assessment
Active learning
Through these three Hallmarks all our programmes should contain an opportunity to:
Apply knowledge to a real world setting in partnership with employers
Create knowledge in partnership with researchers
Consider knowledge in a global context in partnership with our international community 

6. Research-connected Teaching
developing students as participants in research and inquiry
students as producers, not just consumers
a greater number of assessments need to develop research skills
a perfect way to acquire core employability skills – problem solving, analysing, investigating, initiative, drive, creativity, flexibility, etc.

7. Authentic Assessment
“The measurement of intellectual accomplishments that are worthwhile, significant and meaningful” (Wikipedia)
are realistic
requires judgment and innovation
replicates or simulates the contexts in which we are “tested” in the workplace or in personal life
assesses the student’s ability to efficiently and effectively use a repertoire of knowledge and skills to negotiate a complex task

8. The brief from Ted how CT might enhance teaching and learning? TEF
Cannot have a good curriculum without a broad range of CT opportunities
TEF
Engaged and stimulated students who see the applicability of what they learn are more satisfied
employability and the expectations of employers
Want flexible, adaptive employees that can think and respond to changing demands
the role of inter-departmental collaborations in exploring issues of teaching and learning
The global challenges are interdisciplinary and so are the solutions. Graduates need to be learn effectively beyond their own disciplinary boundaries

9. A member of the Russell Group
Have an enjoyable day
A member of the Russell Group