Carol Martinez's Teaching ideas for increasing critical thinking across the curriculum of community colleges; Critical Thinking Across the Curriuculum, Albuquerque TVI Community College; teaching for critical thinking

Critical Thinking
Across the Curriculum
at Albuquerque TVI Community College

Archive of Teaching Ideas

"Sticky Points"

This idea comes from Carol Martinez, TVI, Arts & Sciences Instructor

There are moments in any class when the students are responding with blank stares; but when you ask if they have any questions, no one has one. I think there are at least two reasons for this depending on the student. One reason is that they may not have "soaked in" enough of the concept to think of a good question to ask, and the other is the ever-present thought that they are the only one who doesn't understand the material.

One way that I've tried to get around this is to pass out several pads of 3" x 3" sticky notes on the first day of class. I tell the students to take about five sticky notes to keep in their notebooks, and that if there are any "sticky points" during the class that they want to have clarified, to just jot it down, and put the note on my desk at the end of class. The following class session always begins by addressing the questions raised on the notes.

Sometimes, I've gotten two or three notes asking about the same general topic, and I've pointed that out to the class when I answered the question. Hopefully, this will reinforce the idea that they are not alone. I think it also helps the class to know that I'm genuinely interested in helping them to understand the material.

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If you try this teaching idea, please send us your feedback on its effectiveness in your classroom. Did you adapt this idea to a different course or purpose? Did it result in thoughtful learning? Suggestions for adapting, assessing or improving it?

Updated January 14, 2008, by Nancy King.