Critical thinking among environmental health undergraduates and implications for the profession.* During a study conducted in 2000-2002, the critical-thinking dispositions of undergraduate environmental health students were found to have significant shortcomings A shortcoming is a character flaw. Shortcomings may also be:
* The critical-thinking-disposition scores were comparable to those of other undergraduates throughout the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Canada. * Nevertheless, the shortcomings have significant implications for environmental health academic programs and the profession. * The challenges faced by the profession in terms of recognition, funding, and public support require a high level of critical thinking. * A critical thinker is able to "assess the credibility of a source of information," according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. one theorist the·o·rist n. One who theorizes; a theoretician. theorist a person who forms theories or who specializes in the theory of a particular subject. See also: Ideas, Learning Noun 1. of critical thinking. * A critical thinker also is able to "recognize a problem and describe it without bias." * Critical thinkers take both a broader and a deeper view of any problem or condition. * As a result, they can anticipate "the implications of a position someone is advocating." * Most importantly Adv. 1. most importantly - above and beyond all other consideration; "above all, you must be independent" above all, most especially , critical thinkers are aware of their own thinking and seek to improve it. * They understand their biases and limitations and constantly monitor their thinking to minimize errors. * Results of this study indicated that college experience (total credit hours) appears to be an influential factor in improving critical-thinking dispositions. * In addition, critical-thinking dispositions did not appear to be strongly related to any measure of academic performance in this study. * This result suggests that even average students can develop strong critical-thinking dispositions. This department, Practical Stuff! originated from you, our readers. Many of you have expressed to us that one of the main reasons you read the Journal of Environmental Health is to glean glean v. gleaned, glean·ing, gleans v.intr. To gather grain left behind by reapers. v.tr. 1. To gather (grain) left behind by reapers. 2. practical and useful information for your everyday work-related activities. In response to your feedback, we dedicate ded·i·cate tr.v. ded·i·cat·ed, ded·i·cat·ing, ded·i·cates 1. To set apart for a deity or for religious purposes; consecrate. 2. this section to you with salient points to remember about two to three articles in each issue. |
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