As teachers I feel that one of our main tasks is to encourage students to think critically and to evaluate peoples’ opinions and beliefs based on what evidence people have for their claims. I feel that technology has opened up a new world of alternative views that students may not have experienced. In this short youtube video, the zoologist Richard Dawkins replies to a question on “What if you are wrong?” to not having religious beliefs.
Also, have a look at this site, Nadine passed it onto me. Clay Burrell
What if we are all wrong about UBD?
Here’s an interesting post on critical thinking that I believe you would enjoy. I like the way Clay writes. He is not fanatical, but makes reasoned arguments and is open-minded.
http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/25/truly-critical-thinking-about-science-religion-and-goodness/
Nadine
Joe,
Interesting video. He answers very effectively.
My comment here is actually about the structure of your post, and I realize you may have just wanted to test embedding a video…
Some things I found myself wondering about, but which you didn’t mention in your post:
- How does this video relate to what you teach?
- Would you use the video as a conversation starter in any of your classes? (Actually, could you do that or would you have parents with strong religious views requesting a conference?)
- If you use it in class, how do you then relate the discussion in the video to the issue of critical thinking?
Yes, i was testing if I could post a video but I choose this particular video because it relates specifically to my subject area of science, where critically thinking advances science. We teach evolution and even though we are a non-religious school it does come up with some students that they have not been exposed to any form of the creation of life ideas other than the religious ones that they grew up with. I don’t have the real answer to how life started on earth, maybe there is a flying spaghetti monster that started life on the planet. I want my students to view alternative viewpoints including science and come to their decision.
I have shown this video in class and nearly everytime I do some students really appreciate it, it’s just that they have been too afraid to go against what they were brought up with.
As far if a parent requested a conference, because I encourage their children to think critically?