Plan of Action
Step 1. Research to find credible sources which provide useful information regarding the instruction of critical thinking skills in High Schools
Step 2. Identify the skills that High school students are lacking as they relate to the skills needed for academic success in college
2. Find out what professors feel are the critical skills college students need to have upon
entering college
3. Find out what professors think needs to be taught more in high school to better prepare
students for the expectations of college and to equip them with the skills they need to
construct their own knowledge
2. How often do teachers utilize critical thinking strategies with their students as part of the
learning process
3. How much in class time is devoted to instruction geared towards end of course
standardized testing
4. How much is time a factor in implementing lessons that allow for students to build their
critical thinking and communication skills
different geographic, economic, public and private educational venues
2. Send the survey out to focus group. (Use an electronic survey generating software to
create an online survey)
Step 3 - Compile the data and generate a report based on the findings. Possibly publish
the report in an academic journal as part 1 in a 2-3 part series on filling in the
gaps
Step 4 - Develop strategies for use in the art room to teach the skills students are lacking
Step 5 - Create resource packets
Step 6- Delivery of knowledge
- Use academic journals, literature on art education and education in general focusing on the importance of knowledge integration, critical thinking, and problem solving
- Articulate how instruction in the arts is critical to students developing the needed skills for academic and post high school success
Step 2. Identify the skills that High school students are lacking as they relate to the skills needed for academic success in college
- Develop a survey for college professors to rate the readiness and success beginning college students
- 1. The survey will ask questions that find out what professors perceive are the deficiencies
- students entering college
2. Find out what professors feel are the critical skills college students need to have upon
entering college
3. Find out what professors think needs to be taught more in high school to better prepare
students for the expectations of college and to equip them with the skills they need to
construct their own knowledge
- Develop a survey for high school teachers (Core Subjects and Electives)
2. How often do teachers utilize critical thinking strategies with their students as part of the
learning process
3. How much in class time is devoted to instruction geared towards end of course
standardized testing
4. How much is time a factor in implementing lessons that allow for students to build their
critical thinking and communication skills
- Distribute the survey appropriately and effectively
different geographic, economic, public and private educational venues
2. Send the survey out to focus group. (Use an electronic survey generating software to
create an online survey)
Step 3 - Compile the data and generate a report based on the findings. Possibly publish
the report in an academic journal as part 1 in a 2-3 part series on filling in the
gaps
Step 4 - Develop strategies for use in the art room to teach the skills students are lacking
- To integrate critical thinking into art units of instruction via curriculum integration
- Create cross curricular instruction to increase student ability to utilize their inference and critical thinking skills
- Use thematic instruction to guide students’ knowledge construction
- Provide opportunity for students to gather, summarize and utilize information in the creation of a new thought, practice, invention, ect
Step 5 - Create resource packets
- Decide what should be in the packets. (lesson plans, cross curricular correlations, web resources) for art teachers with examples of how they can integrate and for administrators on the importance of instruction in the arts for the continued success of the learner
- Share how lessons with a focus on developing critical thinking skills can be created to help students gain the skills that currently left out in the standardized educational structure
Step 6- Delivery of knowledge
- Publish results of research in academic journal
- Present findings of research and offer solutions through a dedicated web site and a presentation at a National Educators Association Annual Conference