Webibliogragraphy

Running Head:  E-LEARNING TO BUILD THINKING SKILLS                                                  1

e-Learning to Build Thinking Skills: A Webibliography

Celeste Wegner and Denise J. Tolliver

Liberty University

Reference

Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2011). e-Learning to build thinking skills. In e-Learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning (3rd ed., pp. 339-367). San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer.

Summary

In chapter 15 Clark and Mayer (2011) guides the instructor in using e-learning to build thinking skills.  When the learner develops thinking skills it enables them to prepare for the workforce in whatever career choice they make.  The authors discuss the following:

1.      There are three different types of thinking skills—how do these thinking skills differ?

a.       Creative thinking

b.      Critical thinking

c.       Metacognition

2.      Can thinking skills be taught and three ways a thinking skill program can determine an effective program from an ineffective program.

3.       To help the instructor design or select effective programs the authors give four thinking skills programs:

a.       Principle 1 – Job specific cognitive and metacognitive skills

b.      Principle 2 – Whole task course design

c.       Principle 3 – Make thinking process explicit

b.      Principle 4 – Define job specific thinking processes

The authors also give examples of how to apply the above principles and tell instructors how to teach these principles.  As the authors point out, when instructors follow these guidelines, the learner will improve their thinking skills, and know how and where to apply them.  The training plan may involve a part-task approach or a whole-task approach depending on the abilities and needs of the learners.  The chapter closes with six different recommendations for instructors to keep in mind as we help learners develop thinking skills; however, it also reminds us of what we do not know about teaching and thinking skills.

Reflection

Building thinking skills is very important in any workplace and more in the educational institution.  Clark and Mayer have given us extensive insight into building these skills by using e-learning.  In the K-12 school to promote the necessity of improving thinking skills the Information Technology department must begin by using the three different types of thinking skills: critical, creative and meta-cognition.  As the chapter emphasizes and as those who work in the educational environment recognize daily, learning is as diverse as the people involved.  This includes administrators, teachers, students and parents.  The planning of an e-learning design to meet each of these areas must be flexible.  It requires planning, monitoring, evaluation and charging as necessary.

The guidelines that Chapter 15 outlines give much support to providing an effective program for training on all levels and all abilities.  Chapter 15 also supports the use of e-learning to develop thinking skills in each ability levels.

As I now work and plan to continue working in a K-12 school, I anticipate becoming the Technology Director.  This will require that I stay cognizant of the different areas of technology advancement.  I will need to use the principals of e-learning to keep administrators and teachers excited about teaching students using e-learning to improve their thinking skills.  Whole task instruction and problem-based learning will be very helpful for me to be effective in keeping everyone alert in improving thinking skills in e-learning at all levels of the educational process.