CEIT for a teaching talk: The Science Behind Art: Teaching Critical Thinking

Presented by Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine faculty: Neal Fleisher, DMD; John McManama, DDS; and Ana Zea, DDS **Open to Faculty only** Critical thinking is a term often heard in education presentations, but often is difficult to define. Once understood, educators have even a more difficult time explaining how they teach it. By using various works of art, in a neutral environment, students are challenged to make observations, and discuss their thoughts, assumptions, and inferences based on these observations, with their peers. All are components of critical thinking. Visual Thinking Strategies, is a specific technique developed in the 1970′s, and has been used to engage thoughtful discussion among students from elementary school age, to over 20 leading medical schools throughout the country. Attendees of this session will learn what VTS is, and how it is incorporated in the education process of first year dental students, as an early exercise in critical thinking.