1. 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

2. Critical Thinking: Aristotle
05/23/11
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

3. 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

4. Critical Thinking… Depth of Thought
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Critical Thinking… Depth of Thought
Dilbert from 31 March 2011 4

5. 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

6. Critical Thinking: Rationality
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Critical Thinking: Rationality
Dilbert (from Pactiss.org website) 6

7. Strategies Discussions: Exercises: Online Face-to-Face
Structured / Project Planning
Debates
Case Studies
Team Based Activities

8. 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)

9. Educational Values Constructivist Principles / Collaborative Learning
Student-centered / Shared Responsibility
Teaches the Value of Teamwork
Promotes Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

10. Advantages Two heads are better than one Higher marks Learn more
Learn about working together

11. Critical Thinking, Economics, and Teamwork
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Critical Thinking, Economics, and Teamwork
Dilbert from 13 March 2011 11

12. Needed for Success Time Management Planning Coordination
Role Allocation
Cooperation

13. 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

14. Critical Issues Exercise
Think – Discuss – Share

15. Critical Thinking: Alternative Points of View
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Critical Thinking: Alternative Points of View
Dilbert from 3 April 2011 15

16. 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

17. Dearborn Case Study
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 [September 2005]).

18. Critical Thinking: Alternative Points of View, Cont.
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Critical Thinking: Alternative Points of View, Cont.
Dilbert from 17 April 2011 18

19. Critical Thinking: Speaker's Motivation
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Critical Thinking: Speaker's Motivation
Dilbert from 25 March 2011 19

20. Critical Thinking: Reality Check
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Critical Thinking: Reality Check
Dilbert from 29 March 2011 20

21. Critical Thinking: A Knowledge Base
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Critical Thinking: A Knowledge Base
Dilbert from 14 April 2011 21

22. Critical Thinking: Ask Why
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Critical Thinking: Ask Why
Get Fuzzy 14 May 2011 22