Building My Foundation

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and critically, using reason and experience to form considered judgments. Someone who is a good critical thinker will be able to:

• Distinguish among facts, opinions and inferences.
• Analyze and summarize arguments.
• Synthesize ideas from multiple sources.
• Find connections among diverse ideas, facts and experience.

This is a competency that I believe will always need improving on. Critical thinking allows us to question a lot of what we come in contact with in our lives. It makes sure that we don’t conform with an idea that is presented to us. The class project for NCLC 203 definitely allows us to question what would work best for VF. To find an answer that we, as a class, came up with on our own is the main thing. It allows us to question each other as well. Our class has had very heated debates and by doing this, we can critically think of what others say and freely give our point of view, in a respectful way.

Strategic Problem Solving

Strategic problem solving is the ability to form an effective plan to address a defined problem. A student who excels in this competency will be able to:

• Recognize multiple ways to solve problems.
• Learn how to define problems and the situations that lead to them.
• Formulate strategies tailored to different situations.
• Implement plans, display flexibility and evaluate effective strategies.

The only way that I can definitely think of how this competency can be improved would be because we use this competency whenever we receive a new assignment. We have to plan for when to start the assignment, if we need to look up any information, and to who we should look to, should we have any questions. I think that both the Visions of Nature and the DESIGN project involve some good problem solving skills for the upcoming second half of the semester because a lot of the different parts for each are due around the same time. If we don’t plan ahead, lets just say that it will result in a bad grade and a poorly done project.

Effective Citizenship

Effective citizenship means the development of an informed understanding of communities and the roles and responsibilities of individuals within those communities. Effective citizens will:

• Develop the ability to examine contemporary issues and their historical contexts.
• Recognize the value of multiple perspectives in civic life.
• Make informed choices regarding personal community involvement, social justice issues and leadership roles.
• Make an effort to be informed and educated on issues affecting their communities.

This competency can use improvement, because in today’s society, if one isn’t informed well, then the choices we make can eventually come back to haunt us. It provides the self-awareness that is needed to make a difference in your community. The RING project for my class definitely deals with this aspect. I had to do some research on the community of Fairfax, in order to understand what exactly they need from us. If not, then the choices that the class and I made could have consequences to the entire community.