Faculty Lunch Workshop on Targeted Class Discussions, Oct. 12.

Targeted Class Discussions: An Innovative Class Activity to Stimulate Critical Thinking

Rene Johnson, assistant professor, Department of Community Health Sciences

 Friday, October 12, 2012, 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Founders’ Room T307

 Students retain information better when they consider opposing points of view. To engage students in a dialectical process, Prof. Johnson developed four 1-hour “targeted class discussions” (TCDs) on controversial topics in adolescent health. TCDs are a semi-structured activity in which students examine opposing viewpoints about a specific issue. Students are required to support their contributions with theory and scientific data. The primary objectives of the activity were to: (1) stimulate interest in the subject matter; (2) apply critical thinking skills; and (3) improve students’ skills in synthesizing and communicating complex information. In this session we will demonstrate and discuss the effectiveness of these techniques.

Lunch will be served. Please RSVP to rschadt@bu.edu reserve your seat.