I am reminded of the “Third Wave” experiment that was conducted several decades ago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Third_Wave_(experiment)

Geoffrey Frasz

From: AILACT DISCUSSION LIST <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Trudy Govier <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: AILACT DISCUSSION LIST <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 8:44 AM
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: how not to teach critical thinking?

On 2016-09-13 9:31 AM, Michael Gilbert wrote:
My first thought when Ii rad about this, and it was echoed by a letter writer, is that it can’t have gone through a Human subjects research review - it would never be allowed.

Cheers,

Michael


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael A. Gilbert, Professor, Department of Philosophy


f;ykc



On Sep 12, 2016, at 9:05 PM, Hitchcock, David <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:

Here’s a horror story about one school’s effort to encourage critical thinking by a group of grade 7 students (ages 11 and 12):
Each student has been assigned a number, they are being referred to as “followers” and arbitrarily rewarded or demoted – and teachers are asking parents not to tell their children that they are role-playing...
Teachers address students by a number and assign them to so-called district factions. The teachers, according to a letter sent to parents Tuesday afternoon, represent “The Establishment – a controlling body that runs ‘district workshops,’ does random ‘screening’ or evaluations and arbitrarily demotes/promotes within the factions.”...
It stated that among the goals of the exercise, referred to as process drama, are team building and encouraging students to raise questions and problem solve.
“While we understand this may have been alarming or ‘off putting’ for some students, we were aiming to create some level of discomfort as we set the stage for what is to come,” the letter stated. “We appreciate your trust and support as we embark on a journey of putting education on trial!”
An official at the Vancouver School Board said its educators support experiential learning that allows for deep inquiry and critical thinking.
For more, see http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/role-playing-experiment-at-vancouver-school-aims-to-nurture-critical-thinking/article31785408/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.theglobeandmail.com_news_national_education_role-2Dplaying-2Dexperiment-2Dat-2Dvancouver-2Dschool-2Daims-2Dto-2Dnurture-2Dcritical-2Dthinking_article31785408_&d=CwMDaQ&c=mRWFL96tuqj9V0Jjj4h40ddo0XsmttALwKjAEOCyUjY&r=KTO-67piPlkvVwpkegE90CPhOOUVOHyNkd2ycJxraVlOjFMzr4s8w_Q89bvfLZgJ&m=FGEHP_KM2EmbJ_Z8B1wY7IFvYHSNnf_dZlOwG7cT2RY&s=xe6bDPLC3vpW5iunJsyY1qA_C8U4HKfMLkFV29NRUHY&e=> .

Needless to say, there has been an outcry about this program. It has been suspended. It would be interesting to learn how the teachers who devised this program got the idea that it would help to develop critical thinking, and in particular what conception of critical thinking they were working with. News reports that I have read have not provided that information.

David

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Michael, I agree.  And David, looking into this sounds like a great project for you to undertake! best, Trudy.

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