i2a FAQ
Frequently asked questions regarding Ideas to Action
- What is Ideas to Action, or i2a?
- Why does i2a focus on critical thinking? Aren’t we already teaching that at U of L?
- What is the i2a definition of critical thinking?
- What type of “culminating experiences” are undergraduate students required to complete before they graduate? When will that requirement be in place?
- How can I get more information or get involved with i2a?
What is Ideas to Action, or i2a?
In 2005, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) asked U of L to propose a university-wide initiative known as a quality enhancement plan (QEP) to improve student learning. The initiative had to be practical and one with measurable success. With input and support from all segments of the U of L community, the initiative was created and named Ideas to Action: Using Critical Thinking to Foster Student Learning and Community Engagement, also known simply as i2a.
i2a is designed to sharpen the University’s existing focus on building students' critical thinking skills, starting in the general education program and continuing through undergraduate major courses. All undergraduate students will have an opportunity to demonstrate their critical thinking skills before they graduate by engaging in a culminating experience, such as a thesis, service learning project, internship or capstone project.
Why does i2a focus on critical thinking? Aren’t we already teaching that at U of L?
The ability to think critically calls for a higher-order thinking than simply the ability to recall information. Our faculty are currently designing courses, assignments and tests to promote students’ critical thinking, but i2a represents the opportunity to sharpen our individual and collective efforts in these areas as a campus and give students increasing opportunities to practice and advance toward higher-level reasoning. i2a provides development opportunities to help faculty incorporate more critical thinking activities into their classrooms and aids units in developing culminating experiences appropriate to their disciplines.
Critical thinking was chosen by our campus community as the focus of i2a and it fits our university very well. It reflects the mission assigned to us by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, builds upon our General Education Program's continued commitment to critical thinking, and targets an area that past assessment has indicated could use improvement. But, more important than all of these reasons, i2a will benefit our students by enabling them to be better citizens of the world outside of the University.
What is the i2a definition of critical thinking?
The i2a initiative provides our campus with the opportunity to share a common critical thinking definition and vocabulary. The i2a Team has chosen the Richard Paul-Linda Elder critical thinking framework to guide i2a because of its comprehensive approach and its discipline-neutral terminology.
The Foundation for Critical Thinking offers multiple definitions of critical thinking, including:
Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.
What type of “culminating experiences” are undergraduate students required to complete before they graduate? When will that requirement be in place?
A cornerstone of the i2a project is students’ engagement in what we call a “culminating experience.” Before he or she graduates, every student will be asked to apply his or her new knowledge and critical thinking skills in a project or research endeavor that has practical application. The style and scope of the culminating experience will vary by school, department or academic program. The University has chosen to take an expansive approach to culminating experiences and expects participating units to develop a mix of approaches, which could include:
- Capstone Courses/Projects
- Internships
- Senior Theses
- Research Projects
- Service Learning Projects
As more details and shared learning outcomes for the i2a culminating experiences emerge in 2008 and 2009, additional information will be shared in the Culminating Experiences section of this website.
How can I get more information or get involved with i2a?
The i2a Team and Task Group are offering an ongoing series of workshops and sessions across campus to give you an opportunity to get involved. Check out the i2a Programs as well as our Calendar of Events. We welcome the involvement of all faculty, staff and students in planning and implementation of the i2a initiative. You can read more about i2a by navigating through the different aspects of this website, including Task Group meeting minutes, or contact the i2a Team for the most up to date information. As the program continues to evolve, we look forward to developing more opportunities for you to get involved with i2a! We appreciate your comments and suggestions!
i2a Task Group Meeting
