29 January 2024

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Student Matters

Students should note the new website for support for all matters related to Blackboard. Please start here when you need help with technical issues or learning about Blackboard features: https://lmshelp.umb.edu/

CCT summer courses are offered as 6-week intensives and are open to prospective students and non-degree students as well as current students. This year’s courses have strong themes of personal and professional development focused on developing creative practices in work and life settings. The Seminar in Critical Thinking (first half of summer) addresses the “Design for Living Complexities” and how we develop ourselves, our practices, and our communities in the face of change. The Seminar in Creativity (second half of summer) emphasizes “Creative Realization”, and how we, as reflective practitioners, bring our own good ideas and visions to life. See future newsletters for more information and schedules or contact cct@umb.edu; registration will open later in the spring.

CCT Events

Reflective Practice Mini-Workshop: Educational Biography
Hosted by the Graduate Program in Critical and Creative Thinking, UMass Boston
Monday, February 12, 7:00-8:30pm ET, online in Zoom
Free and open to all. RSVP here to receive the Zoom login information. For more information, see the full description.
In this session, we will experiment with the process of the Educational Biography as a reflective practice. This involves not only recognizing the meaning of past experience but also see it in the light of current actions – how we approach things now in our work and lives. In this mini-workshop, we are focusing most directly on the role of schooling in our life history. In our short time available, we will will move through a series of short reflective activities that help us to raise issues about our educational background and then follow with additional dialogue to collaboratively develop more understanding about these issues. All are welcome, and we invite you to join us as we learn from each other and continue to build our reflective practice.

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 email cct@umb.edu.

Events

Webinar: Building Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines
Hosted by Niche Academy
In this webinar, CCT Assistant Director Jeremy Szteiter will explore practices for library instructors and others in teaching for, and with, critical thinking. We will focus on tools of critical thinking that are relevant across disciplinary areas and support learners to make sense of information in the context of scholarly research and analysis of complex media and online content. The session will include a brief overview of some perspectives on critical thinking, followed by descriptions of specific tools and examples of use. Participants will leave with a sense of how to integrate these tools into instructional materials along with a list of additional resources.
To register, see the website.

City Awake: Awakening the Next Generation of Leaders
January 31, 2024, 11:30am-1:00pm; Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; 265 Franklin Street, Boston, MA.
This free event is specifically for college and graduate students who want to learn more about the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and how City Awake can support their professional and personal growth. For more information, see the website.

International Transformative Learning Conference (ITLC)
September 11-13, 2024, at the University of Siena in Italy
For more information about the conference, submitting proposals, and schedules, see the website.

Educational Sciences Summit
February 21, 2024 on Zoom.
See the website for full details and registration information.
Engage with thought leaders and practitioners, while discovering a treasure trove of ideas, perspectives, and invaluable resources to elevate your teaching. The summit kicks off with an inspiring keynote on February 21 by Dr. Garth Larson, author of the upcoming book “Recalibrate Your Focus.” Delve into the challenges educators have faced in the past four years and discover how to regain focus in the ever-demanding field of education. Dr. Larson will guide you through key areas—Reflection, Connection, Collaboration, and Clarity—providing practical strategies that will leave you with renewed optimism and excitement. Following the keynote, choose from a variety of engaging “Breakout Sessions” designed to equip you with immediately applicable insights for your classroom.

Teaching Professor Conference
June 7-9, 2024, New Orleans, LA.
Extensive sessions and opportunities to connect around many areas related to teaching in higher education. For extensive details about the conference and registration, see the website.

The Politics of Mental Pathology
ColumbiaDC’s series on The End of Rationality
March 31, 2024; 6:30-8:00pm ET
World-renowned forensic psychiatrist Dr. Bandy Lee will share insights on the importance of mental fitness in candidates and also the collective mental health of their core supporters. Dr. Lee points out the ineffectiveness of traditional methods of fighting misinformation and emphasizes the crucial role politically unaffiliated, neutral mental health professionals could play in explaining the mass psychosis and mitigating its growth. She also offers guidance on how we can all contribute to restoring faith in democratic institutions and in truth. Our host will be journalist Jonathan Lemire CC’01, MSNBC host and White House Bureau Chief for Politico. To register (free), see the website.