Proposal

Narrative

Whereas our society commonly promotes values that are focused on superficial and ‘immediate’ results, critical thinking cultivates substance and true intellectual discipline. Critical thinking asks a lot from people because it requires rigorous self-reflection and open mindedness, which are the keys to significant and positive changes in ourselves and in society. Critical thinking also requires the cultivation of core intellectual virtues such as intellectual humility, perseverance, integrity, and responsibility. A rich intellectual environment is possible only when critical thinking is at the foundation of the educational process. The benefits of critical thinking are not merely intrinsic. In a world of accelerating change, intensifying complexity, and increasing interdependence, critical thinking has become a requirement for both economic and social success, since everything we do is determined by the quality of our thinking. It is, therefore, imperative that universities put critical thinking pedagogy at the center of their educational mission. For these reasons, the department of philosophy at Florida Atlantic University is developing a Critical Thinking Institute, which will aim to increase and develop critical thinking skills among students. The Critical Thinking Institute will offer courses that focus on the theory and principles of critical thinking, inductive reasoning, argumentative fallacies, hypothetical and scientific reasoning, and statistical and probabilistic reasoning. Critical Thinking courses will be accompanied by lab sections in which students will hone the skills learned in the classroom through the use of an online platform with practice problems, flash cards, and other resources. This Tech Fee proposal requests funding to turn SO 383A into a smart classroom and computer lab for the Critical Thinking Institute.

Facilities

SO 383A will have to be transformed into a computer lab to accomodate 10 PC which will allow students to access and work with online critical thinking platforms, which will include exercises, practice tests, and other educational tools, and which will be supervised by an instructor. SO 383A already has 8 ports, so 2 additional ports will have to be added.

Hardware Requirements

10 PCs Network printer 2 additional ports (in addition to the existing 8 ports)

Software Requirements

The students will be working with online platforms to which they will have access with a password, which will be provided by the Oxford University Press once the bundle packages are purchased by the students. So, no software will need to be installed in the computers.

Personnel Costs

No personel costs are involved in upgrading SO 383A.

Other Costs

Other costs are as follows: $7,745.20 for 10 PCs, $450 to add two additional ports for the computers, and $965.08 for the network printer.

Timeline

The department proposes to upgrade SO 383A during the Spring semester in order to begin offering critical thinking courses and using the lab during Summer 2018.

Sustainability

As of Fall 2018, the department will apply for a grant to provide salaries for instructors to teach the critical thinking courses and supervise the computer lab sections.

Resource Matching

No resource matching.

Implementing Organization

Department of Philosophy (Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters)