Critical Thinking and
Backwards Course
Design
Dona Warren
Department of Philosophy
UW-SP
The Backwards Design Cycle
Possibly Revise
Objectives,
Assessments, or
Activities.
Implement Learning
Activities.
Identify other
important
ideas
List the
other
important
ideas.
Learning Objectives & Assessment
General Objective
Is this idea a
premise or a
subconclusion?
Specific
Outcome
Assessment
Identify the
relationships
between the
ideas
What ideas is
the argument
giving to
support this
subconclusion?
Specific
Outcome
Assessment
Specific
Outcome
Assessment
Critical Thinking Learning Objectives
Delphi
Model
Analyze Arguments
Write down
the
ultimate
conclusion.
• First identify desired learning
objectives and then work
backwards.
Formulate
Learning
Activities.
Learning Objectives & Assessment
Identify the
ultimate
conclusion
• Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe,
Understanding by Design.
Formulate
Assessment
Tools.
Formulate Learning
Objectives.
Implement
Assessment Tools.
Backwards Design
Facione, Peter A., “Critical Thinking: A
Statement of Expert Consensus for Purposes
of Educational Assessment and Instruction,
‘The Delphi Report’”, Milbrae, California: The
California Academic Press (1990)
http://www.insightassessment.com/dex.html
Jones, Elizabeth A. et al., “National
National
Assessment Assessment of College Student Learning,”
National Center for Educational Statistics
Model
(NCES), U. S Department of Education
(1995)
1
Delphi Model
National Assessment Model
1. Interpretation
4. Inference Skills
1. Interpretation Skills
4. Inference Skills
Categorization
Decoding Significance
Clarifying Meaning
Querying Evidence
Conjecturing Alternatives
Drawing Conclusions
a. Categorizing
b. Detecting Indirect Persuasion
c. Clarifying Meaning
2. Analysis
5. Explanation
a. Collecting and Questioning
Evidence
b. Developing Alternative
Hypotheses
c. Drawing Conclusions
Examining Ideas
Identifying Arguments
Analyzing Arguments
Stating Results
Justifying Procedures
Presenting Arguments
2. Analysis Skills
5. Presenting Arguments
Skills
3. Evaluation Skills
6. Self-Regulation
Assessing Claims
Assessing Arguments
Self-examination
Self-correction
a. Examining Ideas and Purpose
b. Detecting and Analyzing
Arguments
3. Evaluation Skills
6. Reflection Skills
7. Dispositions
7. Dispositions
Standardized Assessment Tools
• Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA)
• Measure of Academic Proficiency and
Progress (MAPP)
• Critical Thinking Test (Module of CAAP)
• Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal
• The California Critical Thinking Skills Test
• The Test of Everyday Reasoning
• The Cornell Critical Thinking Test, Level X
• The Cornell Critical Thinking Test, Level Z
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