This section provides (1) an overview of Surry Community College’s critical thinking initiative and (2) an orientation to critical thinking for new faculty to complete during their first two semesters of employment.
What is the Learning Initiative?
Surry Community College’s Learning Initiative began in 2003 as part of the college’s reaffirmation of accreditation for SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. To read a complete version of the Learning Initiative, also called the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), go to http://www.surry.edu/about/qep/index.html. The QEP is a long-range plan designed to improve and enhance student learning at Surry. We’ve chosen to focus on critical thinking as the way to become a more learning-centered community college.
What is the faculty’s role in it?
Critical thinking underpins everything we do in the classroom, from teaching strategies and instructional design to assessment of student learning. Faculty are expected to design class activities that foster critical thinking on a daily basis as well as create quality projects and assignments that require deep, critical thinking.
All disciplines, all program areas, are expected to contribute to the improvement of students’ thinking skills. This is truly a college-wide endeavor. To that end, each semester the Dean of Research and Assessment randomly collects critical thinking assignments and corresponding student artifacts from faculty across campus. A team of trained faculty assesses those artifacts using the college’s critical thinking rubric. This college-wide assessment of critical thinking provides a picture of our students’ learning: Are critical thinking skills improving? Can our students think critically when they graduate? What do we need to do to improve?
Any questions about the Learning Initiative can be directed to Connie Wolfe at wolfec@surry.edu or (336) 386-3220.
What or who is TACT (Team for the Advancement of Critical Thinking)?
This group is charged with promoting critical thinking and providing on-campus professional development and assistance for faculty and staff. Visit Critical Thinking Workshops to view PowerPoint presentations from TACT workshops.
Members are listed below; feel free to contact any TACT member for help with critical thinking.
| |
Chair, Math |
|
| Michael Ayers |
Chair, Science |
ayersm@surry.edu |
| Carol Boles |
Associate Dean, Allied Health |
bolesch@surry.edu |
| Ginger Utley |
Program Director, Cosmetology |
utleyg@surry.edu |
| Darin Cozzens |
Chair, English and Communications |
cozzensd@surry.edu |
| |
Chair, Engineering Technologies |
|
| Danajean Mabry |
Chair, Humanities and Social Sciences |
mabryd@surry.edu |
| Candace Ring |
Director, Distance Education |
ringc@surry.edu |
| |
Chair, Business Technologies |
|
| Shelia Shelton |
Chair, Computer Science and Electronics |
sheltons@surry.edu |
| Susan Worth |
Chair, Developmental Studies |
worths@surry.ed |
