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» 2012 Spotlight sessions

Spotlight sessions

Click here for full 2012 Spotlight session calendar.

Spotlight sessions are meant for educators who:

  • have a basic understanding of the TC2 approach to critical thinking gained through a previous face-to-face workshop AND
  • want to develop a deeper understanding of critical thinking and its application in their classrooms.

One-hour interactive webinars. Spotlight sessions are offered via Blackboard Collaborate, an online platform previously known as Elluminate. Check out Webinar How-To’s- must reads for first time participants.

FREE! Sample small group sessions:
Providing critical thinking challenges (Intermediate – All teaching levels)
Fostering problem-solving through critical thinking (Elementary math)

Intermediate and Advanced sessions. Some topics are offered at two levels. Both levels are intended for educators who have participated in at least one TC2 sponsored workshop and have begun implementing the ideas in their own teaching.

Intermediate (formerly “introductory”) sessions build on the critical thinking foundation laid during face-to-face presentations, with a focus on a particular area.

Advanced sessions are intended for educators who have participated in more than one TC2 sponsored workshop, have been implementing the ideas in their own teaching, and are looking to increase the depth of their understanding in a particular area.

Scheduled sessions either stand alone or are presented in two parts.  Part 1 sessions are pre-requisites for some part 2 sessions. Each session is offered twice.

Extra sessions may be available for your staff at a time and date that is preferable for you.  Contact us.

Archived sessions.  Selected recorded sessions will be available through our online catalogue beginning in May 2012.

Special rates.  You are eligible for a reduced rate if your school district or organization is a partner organization. Further discounts may be available if your organization has purchased bulk seats. To determine whether you can access these special group rates, contact us.

Full calendar of 2012 Spotlight sessions
Complete descriptions of 2012 Spotlight sessions

**Note: All sessions are listed in Pacific Time.  Click here to convert to your time zone.

Month: Year:
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* Habits of mind (Advanced)Habits of mind (Advanced)

Time: 2:45 pm (PST)

How do you identify the specific habits of mind for a particular challenge? In this session we will discuss selecting habits of mind to nurture over time and practice identifying relevant habits of mind for particular critical challenges. Examples will span grade levels and a variety of curricular areas. Facilitated by Mary Abbott. --Click to view full details or to register.
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* Critiquing and tweaking critical challenges - Secondary mathCritiquing and tweaking critical challenges - Secondary math

Time: 2:45 pm (PST)

This session is designed as a working session where participants share their own critical challenges with colleagues and TC2 facilitators, gaining valuable feedback. Each session will have a specific area of focus. This session focuses on secondary mathematics. Facilitated by Laura Gini-Newman. --Click to view full details or to register.
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* Habits of mind (Introductory)Habits of mind (Introductory)

Time: 12:45 pm (PST)

How do you identify the specific habits of mind for a particular challenge? In this session we will discuss selecting habits of mind to nurture over time and practice identifying relevant habits of mind for particular critical challenges. Examples will span grade levels and a variety of curricular areas. Facilitated by Mary Abbott. --Click to view full details or to register.
* Using realistic contemporary and historical fiction (Gr. 5-8)Using realistic contemporary and historical fiction (Gr. 5-8)

Time: 2:45 pm (PST)

Stories and novels are a powerful but underutilized means of helping students empathize with and understand important contemporary and historical people and events. This session explores various strategies that enable students thoughtfully mine pieces of realistic fiction as sources of information. Participants will be introduced to an annotated bibliography of exemplary pieces of literature for use in teaching various topics in social studies and history. Facilitated by Mary Abbott. --Click to view full details or to register.
* Critical thinking vocabulary (Introductory)Critical thinking vocabulary (Introductory)

Time: 3:45 pm (PST)

How do I decide what thinking vocabulary students need to be successful in a critical challenge? In this session we will identify thinking vocabulary that is useful across disciplines and practice identifying the most important thinking concepts required for a critical challenge. Examples will span grade levels and a variety of curricular areas. Facilitated by Romy Cooper. --Click to view full details or to register.
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* Using images as information sources (K-12)Using images as information sources (K-12)

Time: 12:45 pm (PST)

When it comes to learning about other times and places, a picture is worth a thousand words. This session explores various strategies to support students of all ages in thoughtfully interpreting photographs as sources of information. Participants will be introduced to online collections of picture sets and historical photographs for use in teaching various topics in social studies and science. Facilitated by Karen Larone. --Click to view full details or to register.
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* Building number sense with critical thinking - Mathematics (K-6)Building number sense with critical thinking - Mathematics (K-6)

Time: 2:45 pm (PST)

How does critical thinking help students develop a strong sense of number? What steps can teachers take to promote active learning about place value patterns, basic number facts and mental math strategies? How does the TC2 model enhance student engagement in learning mathematics? In this session, we’ll explore practical ways to use critical thinking to boost your students’ understanding of number and number operations. Facilitated by Cynthia Nicolson. --Click to view full details or to register.
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* Introduction to self-regulated learning (K-12)Introduction to self-regulated learning (K-12)

Time: 12:30 pm (PST)

We want our students to be independent thinkers and learners. Their minds should be 'on' grappling, questioning and making meaning of what is being taught at any given time in our classrooms. They should be using strategies to help them learn effectively. Ideally, students should engage this way habitually and without prompting. This description of self-regulated learning sounds far-fetched, but it's not impossible. In this workshop, we will explore the following: • what is self-regulated learning? • what might it look like in my classroom? • how can the learner's license promote self-regulated learning? NOTE: this is a DOUBLE LENGTH session (2 hours). Facilitated by Stefan Stipp. --Click to view full details or to register.
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* Learning for the 21st century (K-12)Learning for the 21st century (K-12)

Time: 12:45 pm (PST)

There is great interest in preparing students for learning in the 21st century. Unfortunately there is little consensus and even less clarity on what this would mean and how it might be achieved. This session introduces a series of professional learning videos developed by The Critical Thinking Consortium that define and provide practical guidelines for implementing four core ideas behind the calls for 21st century learning: student engagement; self-regulated learning; critical, creative and collaborative inquiry; and teaching and learning in a digital environment. Facilitated by Roland Case. --Click to view full details or to register.
* Part 2 - Critical inquiry in a digital environment (K-12)Part 2 - Critical inquiry in a digital environment (K-12)

Time: 2:45 pm (PST)

How can teachers use technology as a powerful tool to enhance critical, creative and collaborative thinking - widely seen as the cornerstones of education in the 21st century? Part two of this two-part session will explore how to develop learning experiences that engage all learners and prepare them for success in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world by: • examining the biases of technology so that teachers match the best digital tools to the desired learning • exploring how technology can help to enhance a community of thinkers both within the classroom and beyond • unpacking the concept of creative thinking and exploring the notion of collaborative genius. Facilitated by Garfield Gini-Newman. --Click to view full details or to register.
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* Critical thinking vocabulary (Advanced)Critical thinking vocabulary (Advanced)

Time: 12:45 pm (PST)

How do I teach critical thinking vocabulary? Now that you are able to identify the most important thinking vocabulary required for a particular critical challenge, what next? In this session we will explore strategies to explicitly teach critical thinking vocabulary. Participants will also be introduced to TC2 resources that teach thinking vocabulary. Examples will span grade levels and a variety of curricular areas. Facilitated by Pat Jamison. --Click to view full details or to register.
* Critical thinking strategies (Advanced)Critical thinking strategies (Advanced)

Time: 2:45 pm (PST)

How do I teach critical thinking strategies? Now that I can identify the relevant thinking strategies for a critical challenge, what next? In this session we will examine strategies for explicitly teaching thinking strategies. Participants will also be introduced to TC2 resources that support the teaching of this intellectual tool. Examples will span grade levels and a variety of curricular areas. Facilitated by Pat Jamison. --Click to view full details or to register.
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* Background knowledge (K-6)Background knowledge (K-6)

Time: 3:45 pm (PST)

How and when should students access the content material required to complete a critical challenge? This session will examine relevant ways to access background knowledge at the elementary level. Several strategies for effectively introducing this content will be introduced. Examples will focus on grades K-6. Facilitated by Romy Cooper. --Click to view full details or to register.
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* Critical thinking strategies (Advanced)Critical thinking strategies (Advanced)

Time: 3:45 pm (PST)

How do I teach critical thinking strategies? Now that I can identify the relevant thinking strategies for a critical challenge, what next? In this session we will examine strategies for explicitly teaching thinking strategies. Participants will also be introduced to TC2 resources that support the teaching of this intellectual tool. Examples will span grade levels and a variety of curricular areas. Facilitated by Romy Cooper. --Click to view full details or to register.
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Category Key
 Critical thinking and 21st century learning
 Critical thinking foundations
 Critical thinking in areas of study
 Critical thinking tools
 General