SARASOTA, Fla. (Sept 23, 2019) – There is still time to register for a one-day workshop designed to enhance one of the most sought-after skill sets in today’s workforce: critical thinking.
The first of three one-day Critical Thinking Certification Workshops will be held this Friday, Sept. 27, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Room A320A at USF Sarasota-Manatee. Additional workshops will be held at the same time and location Oct. 25 and Nov. 22 at USFSM, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

Workshops are open to all professionals, including CEOs, business owners, educators, managers, human resources professionals, entrepreneurs and lifelong learners. Early registration is $79 through Monday, Sept. 23. Regular registration is $99.The registration fee includes lunch and the Watson-Glaser assessment. Participants must bring a laptop (preferred) or mobile device to complete the online assessment. Visit usfsm.edu/ctworkshops to register. There is a limit of 25 participants per workshop.“Based on my research and conversations, critical thinking is one of the most important skill sets for both the current and future workforce,” said Greg Smogard, PhD, assistant vice president of Innovation and Business Development at USFSM.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook 2018 survey, employers rated critical thinking/problem solving as the most essential competency among new hires.

The Critical Thinking Certification Workshops Series is modeled after USFSM’s highly-successful Incredi-Bull Critical Thinking (IBCT) program, an interdisciplinary, university-wide initiative that facilitates creativity and drives innovation. Now in its fourth year, IBCT has surpassed initial goals with more than 30 courses taught by nearly two dozen faculty, mini-grants to instructors and marked improvement in students’ critical thinking.

“We’ve shattered operational targets, showing that our faculty are excited about the program and are rising to meet the student demand for critical thinking skills and certification,” said Michael Gillespie, PhD, director of USFSM’s IBCT program. “We’ve found that the ability to solve problems and make decisions is often valued by employers even more than an applicant’s major.”

Each one-day workshop includes:
Session 1: Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Assessment
Session 2: Watson-Glaser Development Report and Personal Work Plan
Session 3: Critical Thinking: General Case Study and Discussion
Session 4: Critical Thinking: Business Case and Discussion
Session 5: Applying Critical Thinking to your Personal Development PlanSession 6: Post Workshop Progress Report

Workshop presenters include the following USFSM faculty and staff:Michael Gillespie, PhD, director, Incredi-Bull Critical Thinking Program and associate professor of PsychologyJenny Post, administrator, Incredi-Bull Critical Thinking ProgramGreg Smogard, PhD, assistant vice president, Innovation and Business DevelopmentPhillip Wagner, PhD, regional assistant vice chancellor of Academic AffairsLisa Penney, PhD, professor of ManagementFor more information, contact Mike Gillespie at (941) 359-4228 or magillespie@sar.usf.edu. For more information about USF Sarasota-Manatee, visit http://usfsm.edu/. 

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