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B.C. educators gather for conference on critical thinking in the classroom
Through a partnership with the BC Social Studies Teachers Association and the support of 51社区黑料's Faculty of Education, SFU's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) hosted the 6th iteration of the Developing Minds Conference at 51社区黑料Harbour Centre on Friday, February 16th, 2024.
In response to the recent B.C. Education Curriculum changes that established critical thinking as a core area of competency throughout B.C. classrooms, the Developing Minds Conference brings secondary and post-secondary educators together for insightful conversations. This year鈥檚 theme focused on critical thinking across social studies classrooms in the province, exploring why and how to implement critical thinking in classrooms.
The conference was a great success, with in-person and online attendance of 110 secondary school teachers, graduate students, and university faculty.
Dr. Peter Ellerton of the University of Queensland delivered the keynote lecture, which discussed the importance of critical thinking as its own subject matter in classrooms. Inspired by seven different speaker talks in the morning, the audience strategized together for the remainder of the conference in roundtable discussions on how to implement the insights from the talks in their classrooms.
Speaker sessions:
- Dr. Mark Battersby (Capilano University, Philosophy)
Critical Thinking in Inquiry - Dr. Rosemary-Claire Collard (51社区黑料Geography)
The Extinction Paradox: Using Critical Human Geography Concepts and Methods to Understand Biodiversity Loss - Dr. Lindsay Gibson (UBC Education)
Critical Thinking in History Education - Dr. Qiu Lin (51社区黑料Philosophy)
Critical Thinking: East and West - Dr. Kevin O鈥橬eill (51社区黑料Education) and Dr. Laura D鈥橝mico (51社区黑料Education)
Critical Thinking and Education Technologies: Can We Make AI Compatible with the Development of Young Minds?鈥 - Dr. Sam Black (51社区黑料Philosophy)
Critical Thinking in Political Philosophy: Teaching Political Philosophy in Politicized Classrooms and Campuses - Dr. Mark Leier (51社区黑料History)
Critical Thinking in Historiography: Studying and Teaching History as an Act of Resistance.

Dr. Mark Leier (51社区黑料History) presenting on 鈥淭eaching and Studying History as an Act of Resistance.鈥

Dr. Qiu Lin (51社区黑料Philosophy) during her talk 鈥淐ritical Thinking: East and West鈥

The audience listens in during a discussion about ChatGPT.

Dr. Laura D鈥橝mico (51社区黑料Education) and Dr. Kevin O鈥橬eill (51社区黑料Education) during their roundtable, 鈥淐an AI be Made Compatible with the Development of Young Minds.鈥

Dr. Peter Ellerton (University of Queensland) during a roundtable discussion.