Publications

Download Articles by ACSR Authors

Real Community, Laura Thomas, Antiochracy, October 2009

From Experience to Meaning: The Critical Skills Program, Laura Thomas, Phi Delta Kappan, OCTOBER 2009, Volume 91, Number 2

More Than just the Sum of It's Parts: The Critical Skills Model by Laura Thomas, Phi Lambda Theta, June/ July 2008

A Personal Moment Leads to a Professional Awakening, Laura Thomas, Journal of Staff Development, Spring 2008

In Praise of Reinventing the Wheel, Laura Thomas, Kappan Magazine, April 2008

The Fork Debate, Laura Thomas, Education Week, August 10, 2005 (reprinted as Mission Control- Teacher Magazine, October 1, 2005)

The Buffy Factor, Laura Thomas, Education Week, June 11, 2003

Books

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Critical Skills Program Level 1 Coaching Kit
The manual used in Level I Institutes designed for the novice Critical Skills teacher. Teachers working with problem-based learning, place based learning, or collaborative learning will also find it an excellent resource. Topics explored include: experiential learning, the collaborative learning community, learning standards, problem-based learning, coaching, feedback and assessment, and reflection & connection.
$35.00 plus shipping

Critical Skills Program Level 2 Coaching Kit
The manual used in Level II Institutes designed for teachers experienced with Critical Skills. A great resource for those ready to move on to the next level, this book is designed to support educators in the process of making new connections and enhancing practice. This volume focuses on advanced applications resulting in the nine characteristics of the critical skills classroom.
$35.00 plus shipping

Critical Skills Program K-3 Coaching Kit
A supplemental resource for K-3 teachers with sections on learning community, problems-based learning, and targeting state standards.
$25.00 plus shipping

Assessment in the Critical Skills Classroom
A supplemental resource for all levels, focusing on a Critical Skills perspective on assessment as a tool for planning, teaching and learning. Topics explored include: what is the critical skills classroom?, assessment, what we think it is, what it should be, quality criteria, knowing where you want to go, rubrics, reflection, and planning for quality assessment.
$10.00 plus shipping

Critical Skills Poster Sets
This set of sixteen posters is suitable for classroom use. Each focuses on a different element of the Critical Skills model including: quality criteria, brainstorming, the experiential cycle, the nine characteristics of the critical skills classroom, and the skills and dispositions.
$20.00 plus shipping

Problem Based Service Learning: A Fieldguide for Making a Difference in Higher Education,
Rick Gordon, Ed.
This is a practical, user-friendly guide for faculty and others interested in problem based service learning. Various authors discuss: project design, community partner relations, building community in the classroom, building student capacity, problem statement, project management, assessment of learning, and reflection and connection. This book provides clear guidance on how to implement successful learning focused service in higher education. The college faculty who contributed to this guide describe their real world experiences using problem based learning to achieve their course learning outcomes through service to the community. Each chapter in the guide addresses a particular component of PBSL explaining its importance, offering concrete tools, strategies, and tips for faculty and students, and sharing a case study of this principle in action.
$25.00 plus shipping

Last Updated: 1/15/10