2 August 2022

Also see: news archives | sign up for email newsletter | submit items for future news

Student Matters

Fall 2022 courses:

All times Eastern. Note that hybrid format courses have two sections. Register by section # as indicated below, according to whether you will attend the course on campus or online. Current students can register through WISER, and non-degree students may register through the university website.

• CrCrTh 601, Critical Thinking; Sept. 8-Dec. 8; weekly meetings on Thursdays, 4:00-6:45pm, hybrid format (on campus: #4324, online: #12992)
• CrCrTh 618, Creative Thinking, Collaboration, and Organizational Change; Sept. 12-Dec.12; weekly meetings on Mondays, 7:00-9:45pm, hybrid format (on campus: #11223, online: #12993)
• CrCrTh 655, Metacognition; Sept. 6-Dec.13; weekly meetings on Tuesdays, 7:00-9:45pm, (online only: #12994)
• CrCrTh 692, Processes of Research and Engagement; Sept. 12-Dec.12; weekly meetings on Mondays, 4:00-6:45pm, hybrid format (on campus: #4326, online: #12995)

CCT Events

CCT Community Open House: Why? Why? Why? Rethinking the Relationship between Child and Adult Minds
Tuesday, August 9th, 2022, 4:30-6:00pm EDT
Online in Zoom, free and open to all.
RSVP here to receive the Zoom login details the day before the event. See the full description.
Description: As adults, we may initially regard the child’s mind as something separate or different from our own. What if we, instead, consider the way that the thinking of the child continues on in ourselves, and how this can be a source of our own critical and creative thinking? How does the realm of the child’s mind and the inner child of adulthood reveal insights into a theory of mind? In this participatory session facilitated by CCT graduate Laura White, we’ll explore the shared inquiry of the whys and wonders to better grasp how adults can gain realizations from our little ones as we simultaneously guide their endeavors through their uncharted world.

The Shifting Paths of Progress and Purpose During Graduate Study: A Reflective Dialogue for Graduate Students
Thursday, August 18th, 2022, 4:00-5:15pm EDT
Online in Zoom, free and open to all.
RSVP here to register and receive the Zoom login details. See the full description.
The graduate program in Critical and Creative Thinking at UMass Boston invites you to join us for this dialogue-oriented activity related to understanding how our understanding of purpose of graduate study evolves during the time in a program. All are welcome, but the session may be most relevant to those who are continuing students in a graduate program or very recently finished one. The session will help us to raise themes related to the transitions and changes of perspective and involve a series of short reflective activities and dialogue to help raise insights to help us see the connection between why we started a graduate study, where we are now, and where we might be going from here.

Alum, Student, and CCT Associates Notables

CCT students, alums, and associates are encouraged to send items about accomplishments, new publications, or offerings to the Critical and Creative Thinking community to be included in future newsletters. Please submit items here.

Events

SAGE Publishing’s Third Annual Critical Thinking Bootcamp
Tuesday, August 9th, 2022,12:00-3:00pm Eastern
As AI becomes smarter and more deeply embedded in how we access information and algorithms increasingly dictate what information we consume, how can we train students to spot and respond to misinformation? And what ethical considerations do we need to think through along the way? This event offers insights, guidance, and resources to help librarians, professors, and other staff encourage critical thinking in and out of the classroom. Join our free, virtual sessions to find ways to recognize and address the impact of tech trends on our media ecosystem and learn tactics that can be used to educate students.

Rooting Deep for Global Change
online: Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022
hosted by the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society
More information and registration.
This free, online session is CMind’s 2022 Arthur Zajonc Lecture on Contemplative Education, given by Colette Pinchon Battle. As the topic of climate change enters into the psyche of more people, the work of more justice organizations, and the teachings of more learning institutions, the complexity of addressing both the invisible atmospheric crisis through the need for broader economic and social transformation shifts short term individual action into long-term social change. To do this the work rooted in culture, tradition, peace, and spirit requires an intersection of training, analysis-development, organizing, and solution-building. How can we serve our communities and honor long-standing traditions of sustainability? How can we address and heal trauma in the midst of the often traumatic impact of the climate crisis? How can we learn from struggles for sovereignty to advance a new climate reality? How can we spread knowledge, skills, and information rooted in traditional wisdom while creating more humane and ecologically just standards for climate solutions? We will discuss the importance of exploring these questions so that we forge and fortify networks rooted in a shared power, as opposed to an unchangeable fate.