693GroupModel

Knowledge Assumption:
Students of CCT have learned the benefits of group collaboration.

Questions:
Are there well-established groups that promote an environment for critical and creative thinking? Perhaps CCT students could join these groups to continue their critical and creative thinking after graduation or they could serve as models for forming a CCT post-graduate group that would be well-respected with a large membership.

Action:
Create a model for a supportive community for CCT students during the program and after graduation.

How to find out:
I will research successful groups that promote intellectual growth and community to see what their common characteristics are and see if they could provide an environment for creative and critical thinking. I will see how many people thought about whether these groups could provide them with the same benefits they experienced in CCT (poll during presentation).

Research: At first, I focused on some common links between the groups which I thought I could find. These were: ideals, purpose, structure, and benefits/results. I found these and another common thread was revealed -- diversity. I thought that I should take it a step further and started to look at aspects of these groups that would promote creative and critical thinking. When searching for documentation about group interactions promoting critical and creative thinking, I found the writings of Johnson, Johnson and Smith, 1998 and Dunham, 1998 helpful. They provide an outline of what is important for groups to interact effectively. Generally, the important aspects are positive interdependence, individual accountability, promotive interaction, social skills, and group processing.

I looked for these characteristics within the Web pages of some well known groups such as the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Toastmasters International, and Mensa International. These characteristics are present in these groups in the form of an emotional component (an expressed intent to foster certain emotions through an allegiance to positive ethical or collaborative principles); a purpose for the group to which each person has a role of contribution; a commitment to helping, assisting, supporting, encouraging, and praising one another's efforts to learn; leadership skills (which involve the development of creative and critical thinking); and structure through standards/a constitution/by laws.

For instance, at KKG they intend to help its members in personal growth, self-awareness, esteem and confidence by living ethically within the "sisterhood." Members are individually accountable for their academic performance while the organization helps its members to appreciate learning. It offers a surprising diversity of background and interest among its members and emphasizes the importance of inter-personal cooperation despite different viewpoints. They offer workshops for interpersonal and leadership development which closely resemble the critical and creative thinking classes. They follow fraternity by laws for setting up and maintaining a chapter.

Mensa has three stated purposes: to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, to encourage research in the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence, and promote intellectual and social opportunities for its members. A high IQ is the only requirement for entry therefore the group is very diverse. Mensa International provides a forum for intellectual exchange among its members through lectures, discussions, journals, and gatherings. They investigate the opinions and attitudes of its members. The group also provides assistance to researchers in projects dealing with intelligence or Mensa. They operate under a constitution but I could not find any details about the structure of the organization. The organization also offers intellectual stimulation and social interaction through special interest groups where diversity is at its best.

Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. Through collaboration, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, and find the courage to change. They help people learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking - vital skills that promote self-actualization, enhance leadership, foster human understanding and contribute to the betterment of mankind. They learn these things by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. Members usually learn how to accept criticism more objectively and present constructive criticism more effectively. They have the opportunity to conduct meetings, give impromptu speeches, present prepared speeches, and learn about topics of communication and leadership. Their core values are integrity, dedication to excellence, service to the member, and respect for the individual. This group benefits the employers and the individual. Meetings are often held within corporations, universities, associations, community groups, and government agencies.

I looked at only a few organizations that I thought would foster Creative and Critical Thinking. I could have expanded my review and contrasted it with organizations that I do not think foster Creative and Critical Thinking. I might have been surprised by my findings. A next step might be to create a questionnaire to for people within these organizations to see how much creative and critical thinking is happening. Overall, it seems that creating a group that forms tight bonds between people while they are in the program would carry into the future. Setting up a group structured like a sorority would allow for the easy continuation of support after graduation.

Dunham, Randall B., “Nominal Group Technique: A User's Guide” http://instruction.bus.wisc.edu/obdemo/readings/ngt.html, 1998.

Johnson, David W., Roger T. Johnson, & Karl A. Smith, "Cooperative Learning Returns To College: What Evidence Is There That It Works?" //Change//, July/August 1998, p. 27-35.