CEOct14

=Using Critical Thinking as a Tool for Empathy in a Polarized Culture=

A Collaborative Exploration (CE) in which participants inquire into the possibilities of using critical thinking to develop empathy in trying to understand alternate perspectives and behaviors in areas of culture (politics, education, social movements) where polarization exists and tends to push ideas and people to extreme opposing sides. >> on hangout for 1 hour each week at a time arranged to fit the schedules of those who register. The URL for the first hangout will be provided only to those who register (via http://bit.ly/CEApply), which entails making a commitment to attend that 1st session and at least 2 of the other 3 hangouts. >> a) tangible: a compilation of critical thinking tools and principles that guide us into a response of empathy toward people rather than reactions to issues based on established views; >> b) experiential: being impressed at how much can be learned with a small commitment of time using the CE structure to motivate and connect participants.
 * //**In brief, CEs are an extension of Problem- or Project-Based Learning**// (PBL) and related approaches to education in which participants address a scenario or case in which the problems are not well defined, shaping their own directions of inquiry and developing their skills as investigators and prospective teachers (in the broadest sense of the word). (For more background, read the prospectus.)
 * //**If you want to know what a CE requires of you**//, review the expectations and mechanics.
 * //**If you are wondering how to define a meaningful and useful approach**// to the topic, let us present a scenario for the CE and hope this stimulates you to apply to participate. We will then let CE participants judge for themselves whether their inquiries are relevant.
 * //**Intended outcomes for participants of this CE**// are of two kinds:

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