Follow-up One-day Workshops

Follow-up one-day workshops for teachers who participated in previous OTF Critical Thinking programs will take place in March and April 2010 in Toronto.  Please register for the appropriate workshop as described below.

OTF members who participated in the Critical Thinking:Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century on February 12-13 are invited to participate in the follow-up workshop to be held at OISE Saturday March 27, 2010.

OTF covers the cost of double occupancy accommodation for March 26, onsite meals and transportation.

Click here to register.

TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE 21st CENTURY

"The ability to learn new things is more important than ever in a world where you have to process new information at lightning speed. Students need to be able to think creatively, critically, and collaboratively… "
Don Tapscott, Grown Up Digital

Just adding new technology to a classroom does not necessarily improve the quality of instruction. If we are to realize the potential offered by learning in the digital age, then we must begin to harness technology to a powerful pedagogical framework.

OTF, in partnership with the Critical Thinking Consortium (TC2), is offering a two-day workshop designed to bring together technological and pedagogical innovations.

During the two days, teachers will explore the means by which new technologies support and enhance all aspects of the inquiry process. Teachers will consider effective interactive whiteboard technology strategies that create collaborative classrooms in which students can access and process information to solve meaningful problems and acquire new knowledge. Teachers will also explore ways in which a variety of technologies, including software such as Audacity and Garage Band, web-based tools such as Google applications, and hardware such as document cameras, can be used to nurture inquiring minds and create classrooms built around inquiry-based instruction.

The workshop will take place on February 12-13, 2010 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Toronto. There is a $50 registration fee. OTF covers the cost of release time for Friday, February 12, 2010, double occupancy accommodation, onsite meals and transportation.
This program is only for OTF members.

Teachers registered, please click here for more information about the conference.

Thinking About Thinking: Developing Curriculum to Nurture Critically Thoughtful Learners

OTF hosted a very successful two-day conference, Thinking About Thinking: Developing Curriculum to Nurture Critically Thoughtful Learners on November 27-28, 2009 in Toronto. This conference was held in partnership with The Critical Thinking Consortium and facilitated by Garfield Gini-Newman.

More than 190 teachers from all of OTF’s Affiliates participated in this very exciting professional development activity. The purpose of the conference was to support classroom teachers in their own professional learning and provide them with effective strategies and a critical thinking framework to improve their classroom practice.

Beyond the introductory two days, teachers will be able to participate in OTF’s Critical Thinking program throughout the year. Teachers will receive ongoing support. They will have the opportunity to collaborate through the use of wikis and to participate in online conferences presented by experts in the field of critical thinking.

The teachers themselves told us how much they appreciated this opportunity. Some comments on the evaluations tell the story...

“Overall, this has been a wonderful opportunity to collaborate, to network, to learn, to tweak already made lesson plans. Thank you for the opportunity!”

“Fabulous PD...ready to use ideas...gave me new information...gave me time to discuss with colleagues.”

“Thinking about Thinking Conference gives clarity to the delivery of my topics within various subject areas.”

“Excellent session. Provided new techniques that are directly applicable to the classroom. Great idea to have online sharing session.”

“It was excellent! Super great hands-on ideas. I am ready for next week!”

We even heard by email afterwards...

“Hi, I want to tell you how much I got out the conference, and thank you (and everyone else involved) for making the opportunity available to us. It was, hands down, the most useful and meaningful Professional Development I have experienced in all of my 17 years of teaching. I teach chemistry and physics, so the focus on criteria in problem-solving based learning was right down my alley! The Critical Thinking Conference not only reinforced what I already do, but it gave me easy to use strategies to enhance the learning process in my classes. I have spread the word to my principal and other teachers at my school that all PD should be like The Critical Thinking Conference. Thanks again.”

For those teachers who took part in previous introductory sessions, this year’s program offers the opportunity to delve deeper and explore new ideas in critical thinking. They will be invited to participate in wikis and online conferences.

Click here for more information about the ongoing support program.

All participants will have the opportunity to share ideas and resources at a wrap-up session in April, 2010.


Critical Thinking Network

The Critical Thinking Network is being developed, in partnership with The Critical Thinking Consortium (TC2), as part of OTF’s professional development program. It is designed as a place for educators to come together and “think about thinking.” As the network develops and grows, it will provide information about critical thinking with links to online articles, resources, references and networking opportunities to assist with embedding critical thinking into your classroom curriculum.


Click here for Garfield Gini-Newman's presentation used at the November 28-29, 2008 workshops.

Click here for Sample Critical Thinking Tasks.