Critical thinking involves thinking about complex problems, gathering and evaluating information, comparing alternative conclusions, and communicating a conclusion. Over the next five years, the University is investing resources to help faculty and professional staff more effectively teach critical thinking. The university will also invest in building and/or renovating classrooms that facilitate engaged learning opportunities. This Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), ThinkFORWARD, was developed from conversations among students, faculty, and staff.

ThinkFORWARD is designed to foster critical thinking skill development in lower-division, general education courses and co-curricular learning experiences by enhancing faculty development and modifying student learning environments.

Critical thinking is the ability to conceptualize problems, gather pertinent information, interpret data, appraise evidence, distinguish diverse points of view, and articulate personal insights, in order to present reasonable and effective arguments, responses or conclusions.

ThinkFORWARD sets out an ambitious set of actions, unites the UM community of scholars around a central learning outcome, and reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to improve general education.

Resources for Faculty:

• Teaching For Critical Thinking: Tools And Techniques To Help Students Question Their Assumptions / Stephen Brookfield
• Thinking, Fast And Slow / Daniel Kahneman
• Critical Thinking: Tools For Taking Charge Of Your Professional And Personal Life / Richard Paul and Linda Elder
• Essential Questions: Opening Doors to Student Understanding / Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins
• Teaching Critical Thinking: Practical Wisdom / bell hooks
• How Humans Learn: The Science and Stories Behind Effective College Teaching (Teaching and Learning in Higher Education) / Josh Eyler
• Critical Thinking Skills 4-Pack / Linda Nilson
• Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts / Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson
• Engaging Ideas: The Professor's Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning in the Classroom / John C. Bean
• Thought and Knowledge: An Introduction to Critical Thinking / Diane F. Halpern
• Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts / Peter Facione. Insight Assessment. 2006.1: 1-23.

ThinkFORWARD is the University of Mississippi's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)