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IS-289: Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) Overview
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Climate Adaptation and Hazard Mitigation Certificate Program
Maintenance outage extended - friday, october 27th, 2023.
Notice: The Independent Study Program office will be closed Monday December 24, 2018.
Course Date
Course overview, course objectives:.
- Define the Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL).
- Identify the VAL positions within government.
- Outline the VAL relationships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
- Define the VAL role in the four phases of emergency management.
- Outline the VAL Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
- Identify ways to connect and learn with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Prerequisites
- IS288.a: The Role of Voluntary Organizations in Emergency Management
- IS244.b: Developing and Managing Volunteers
- IS405: Mass Care/Emergency Assistance Overview
- IS505: Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency in Disaster
Course Length:
- Interactive Web Based Course
- Please note that the is program now requires a fema sid to be used instead of your ssn. if you do not have a sid, register for one here .
- Take Final Exam Online
- Test questions are scrambled to protect test integrity
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- February 12, 2024
The Vital Role of Critical Thinking in Knowledge Acquisition
In the ever-evolving landscape of education and professional development, the ability to sift through vast amounts of information and distil it into actionable knowledge is more critical than ever. At the heart of this transformation lies a skill often heralded yet not deeply explored: critical thinking.
It’s a term frequently mentioned in academic and professional circles, but what does it truly entail, and more importantly, why is it indispensable in our journey from gathering information to acquiring knowledge?
Critical thinking is not just a supplementary skill; it’s the linchpin that converts raw data and facts into meaningful understanding and insight. It’s the process of actively analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information gathered from observation, experience, reflection, or communication.
In an age where information is ubiquitous, the ability to critically examine this information and apply reasoned judgment is what distinguishes mere data holders from true knowledge seekers.
This ability to think critically does not merely enhance knowledge acquisition; it fundamentally reshapes it. Instead of passively receiving information, critical thinkers engage actively with content, questioning assumptions, seeking evidence, and drawing connections. This dynamic interaction with information is what transforms it into knowledge – a process far more profound than simple memorization or passive consumption.
Thus, the main argument of this discussion is clear: critical thinking is not just an adjunct but a central component of effective knowledge acquisition. It’s the bridge between having access to information and being able to understand, interpret, and apply that information effectively in various contexts – a skill crucial not only for academic success but also for navigating the complexities of today’s professional environments.
In the following sections, we will delve deeper into the mechanics of critical thinking, explore its role in the process of learning, and provide practical insights on how to cultivate this essential skill, thus empowering our journey from information-rich environments to knowledge-empowered landscapes.
Understanding Critical Thinking
At its core, critical thinking is a disciplined process of thought that enhances our ability to interpret, analyze, and evaluate information and situations.
It’s a multifaceted skill, encompassing several key elements that are essential in various aspects of life, especially in the realm of knowledge acquisition.
Definition and Key Elements
Critical thinking involves a range of cognitive skills and dispositions.
Here are some of the pivotal elements:
- Analysis : This involves breaking down complex pieces of information or problems into smaller, more manageable parts to understand them better.
- Evaluation : Critical thinkers assess the credibility and logical strength of evidence, arguments, and claims. They discern bias, identify inconsistencies, and evaluate the validity of sources and content.
- Inference : The ability to draw reasoned conclusions from the information at hand is a crucial aspect of critical thinking. It involves seeing beyond the obvious and making connections between seemingly unrelated pieces of information.
- Problem-Solving : This skill is about using critical analysis, creative thinking, and logical reasoning to find solutions to complex problems. It’s about thinking beyond the standard approaches and considering a range of potential solutions.
- Reflection : Critical thinking involves a degree of self-reflection, questioning one’s own assumptions, beliefs, and values, and considering how these might influence one’s interpretations and judgments.
The Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Knowledge Acquisition
The relationship between critical thinking and knowledge acquisition is profound and integral.
Here’s how these skills contribute to effective knowledge acquisition:
- Enhanced Comprehension : By analysing and breaking down information, critical thinkers gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter, moving beyond surface-level comprehension to a more nuanced grasp.
- Effective Application : Evaluation and inference skills allow individuals to apply information in new and diverse contexts. Knowledge isn’t just about storing information; it’s about using it effectively to make decisions, solve problems, and generate new ideas.
- Informed Decision-Making : Through critical evaluation, individuals can make well-informed decisions, discerning the most relevant and accurate information amidst a sea of data.
- Continuous Learning : The reflective aspect of critical thinking fosters a mindset of continuous learning . Critical thinkers are always questioning, always learning, and perpetually refining their understanding of the world around them.
In summary, critical thinking is not just a supplementary skill but a cornerstone in the process of transforming information into meaningful and applicable knowledge.
It is through these critical lenses that we not only view and interpret the world but also contribute to it with informed insights and innovative solutions.
Chris Hutchinson
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Why Content Knowledge is Crucial to Effective Critical Thinking
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The Hechinger Report is a national nonprofit newsroom that reports on one topic: education. Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.
Critical thinking is all the rage in education. Schools brag that they teach it on their websites and in open houses to impress parents. Some argue that critical thinking should be the primary purpose of education and one of the most important skills to have in the 21st century, with advanced machines and algorithms replacing manual and repetitive labor.
But a fascinating review of the scientific research on how to teach critical thinking concludes that teaching generic critical thinking skills, such as logical reasoning, might be a big waste of time. Critical thinking exercises and games haven’t produced long-lasting improvements for students. And the research literature shows that it’s very difficult for students to apply critical thinking skills learned in one subject to another, even between different fields of science.
“Wanting students to be able to ‘analyse, synthesise and evaluate’ information sounds like a reasonable goal,” writes Daniel Willingham, a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia. “But analysis, synthesis, and evaluation mean different things in different disciplines.”
Willingham’s reading of the research literature concludes that scientists are united in their belief that content knowledge is crucial to effective critical thinking. And he argues that the best approach is to explicitly teach very specific small skills of analysis for each subject. For example, in history, students need to interpret documents in light of their sources, seek corroboration and put them in their historical context. That kind of analysis isn’t relevant in science, where the source of a document isn’t as important as following the scientific method.
Willingham wrote a paper, “ How to Teach Critical Thinking ,” in May 2019 for the Department of Education of New South Wales in Australia. But it is entirely applicable to the American context.
In the paper, Willingham traces the history of teaching critical thinking. More than a century ago, many thought that difficult subjects like Latin might improve thinking abilities. But scientists subsequently found that students who studied Latin didn’t do any better on tests than those who didn’t. There are mixed results from more recent studies in teaching students computer science. A 2018 meta-analysis showed better creative thinking, mathematics, meta-cognition, spatial skills and reasoning for students who take computer programing. But the gains were much smaller for studies with good control groups. A lot of the so-called benefit to studying computer science appears to be a placebo effect.
To be sure, there are basic logic principles that are true across subjects, such as understanding that “A” and “not A” cannot simultaneously be true. But students typically fail to apply even generic principles like these in new situations. In one experiment described by Willingham, people read a passage about how rebels successfully attacked a dictator hiding in a fortress (they dispersed the forces to avoid collateral damage and then converged at the point of attack). Immediately afterwards, they were asked how to destroy a malignant tumor using a ray that could cause a lot of collateral damage to healthy tissue. The solution was identical to that of the military attack but the subjects in the experiment didn’t see the analogy. In a follow-up experiment, people were told that the military story might help them solve the cancer problem and almost everyone solved it. “Using the analogy was not hard; the problem was thinking to use it in the first place,” Willingham explained.
To help student see analogies, “show students two solved problems with different surface structures but the same deep structure and ask them to compare them,” Williingham advises teachers, citing a pedagogical technique proven to work by researchers in 2013.
In math, students often get derailed when a word problem is slightly different from a step-by-step model that they’ve studied. A research-tested strategy here, developed by Richard Catrambone at the Georgia Institute of Technology , is to label the sub-steps of the solution with the goal they serve. That way students can understand why they’re using each step and what it’s accomplishing.
But the bigger problem is that critical thinking varies so much. “Critical thinking is needed when playing chess, designing a product, or planning strategy for a field hockey match,” Willingham wrote. “But there are no routine, reusable solutions for these problems.”
And this is where content knowledge becomes important. In order to compare and contrast, the brain has to hold ideas in working memory, which can easily be overloaded. The more familiar a student is with a particular topic, the easier it is for the student to hold those ideas in his working memory and really think. Willingham uses chess as a good example. Once a student has a played a lot of chess, then he has many board positions memorized in his brain and can sort through which one is better in each particular circumstance.
Willingham says that the scientific research shows that it’s very hard to evaluate an author’s claim if you don’t have background knowledge in the subject. “If you lack background knowledge about the topic, ample evidence from the last 40 years indicates you will not comprehend the author’s claims in the first place,” wrote Willingham, citing his own 2017 book .
At what age should teachers begin this subject-specific teaching of individual, discrete critical thinking skills? Some teachers might think it’s developmentally inappropriate, and possibly harmful, to engage in cognitive work that seems more appropriate for an older child. But research from the last 30 years shows that young children are far more capable in engaging in reasoning that we once thought. Scientists now think that cognitive development is more gradual and starts young. “In some circumstances, even toddlers can understand principles of conditional reasoning, and in other circumstances, conditional reasoning confuses adult physicians,” wrote Willingham. “It all depends on the content of the problem.”
Willingham’s ideas are similar to those of Natalie Wexler, who makes an impassioned argument that schools should return to a content-rich curriculum in her 2019 book, “ The Knowledge Gap .” Both are worth reading as a strong counterpoint to the emphasis on critical thinking in schools today.
This story about how to teach critical thinking was written by Jill Barshay and produced by The Hechinger Report , a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter .
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COMMENTS
With the information and data collected, VALs must assess the needs, available resources, and apply critical thinking skills to make the right connections among organizations, programs, and people. Using the information they collect and knowledge they possess, VALs must be able to: Assess and identify best ways to support communities
Define the program knowledge skills required as a VAL. Define the critical thinking skills required as a VAL. Define the leadership skills required as a VAL. In this lesson, we'll present the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are required for VALs to be successful in their roles and responsibilities.
Define the program knowledge skills required as a VAL. Define the critical thinking skills required as a VAL. Define the leadership skills required as a VAL. In this lesson, we'll present the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are required for VALs to be successful in their roles and responsibilities.
Define the Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL). Identify the VAL positions within government. Outline the VAL relationships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Define the VAL role in the four phases of emergency management. Outline the VAL Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Identify ways to connect and learn with non-governmental ...
Experiencers (VALS) appreciate inclusivity and flexibility. makers (VALS) practical people who have constructive skills and value self-sufficiency; leisure = physical forms of recreation. Survivors (VALS) Live narrowly focused lives; with few resources with which to cope, often believe that the world is changing too quickly; are comfortable ...
Non-profit organizations that VALs work with can include: 27. VALs' critical thinking skills and knowledge can inform: 28. Which of the following is true about non-governmental resources? 29. Which of the following is not a VAL communication activity? 30. Which of the following is not a relevant VAL organizatioanal skill? 31.
VALs' critical thinking skills and knowledge can inform: A. Partnering organizations' missions and values B. FEMA's core values C. National policy efforts, rules, tools, and exercise plans D. National economic trends and business activities ... VALs' critical thinking skills and knowledge can inform: National policy efforts, rules, tools, and ...
The critical thinking abilities and understanding of VALs can contribute to: A. General financial patterns and commercial operations B. Collaborative entities' objectives and principles C. Countrywide strategy initiatives, regulations, instruments, and workout schedules D.
Critical thinking is the discipline of rigorously and skillfully using information, experience, observation, and reasoning to guide your decisions, actions, and beliefs. You'll need to actively question every step of your thinking process to do it well. Collecting, analyzing and evaluating information is an important skill in life, and a highly ...
VALs' critical thinking skills and knowledge can inform: A. National economic trends and business activities B. National policy efforts, rules, tools, and exercise plans C. Partnering organizations' missions and values D. FEMA's core values ... VALs' critical thinking skills and knowledge can inform: National policy efforts, rules, tools, and ...
It makes you a well-rounded individual, one who has looked at all of their options and possible solutions before making a choice. According to the University of the People in California, having critical thinking skills is important because they are [ 1 ]: Universal. Crucial for the economy. Essential for improving language and presentation skills.
Define the organizational skills required as a VAL. Define the program knowledge skills required as a VAL. Define the critical thinking skills required as a VAL. Define the leadership skills required as a VAL. In this lesson, we'll present the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are required for VALs to be successful in their roles and ...
In recent decades, approaches to critical thinking have generally taken a practical turn, pivoting away from more abstract accounts - such as emphasizing the logical relations that hold between statements (Ennis, 1964) - and moving toward an emphasis on belief and action.According to the definition that Robert Ennis (2018) has been advocating for the last few decades, critical thinking is ...
Here's how these skills contribute to effective knowledge acquisition: Enhanced Comprehension: By analysing and breaking down information, critical thinkers gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter, moving beyond surface-level comprehension to a more nuanced grasp.; Effective Application: Evaluation and inference skills allow individuals to apply information in new and diverse contexts.
VALs' critical thinking skills and knowledge can inform: A. Partnering organizations' missions and values B. FEMA's core values C. National policy efforts, rules, tools, and exercise plans D. National economic trends and business activities
Among the four ESF #6 functions that VALs support, VALs play a critical role within the emergency assistance function by providing support for volunteer and donation management. VALs can provide: Coaching/mentoring for Volunteer and Donations Coordination Task Force (VDCTF) and State VAL functions to develop Volunteer Reception Centers ...
Willingham's reading of the research literature concludes that scientists are united in their belief that content knowledge is crucial to effective critical thinking. And he argues that the best approach is to explicitly teach very specific small skills of analysis for each subject. For example, in history, students need to interpret ...
Critical thinking skills (CTS) is the ability to apply the knowledge to solve problems, evaluate information, and make solutions. Conceptual understanding (CU) refers to an integrated and ...
Knowledge Check (5 of 6) Instructions: Select all that apply. Which of the following are potential outcomes of VALs using their critical thinking skills? Delegation of VAL responsibilities Updates to a national policy Creation of a new non-profit organization
VALs' critical thinking skills and knowledge can inform: A. Partnering organizations' missions and values B. National economic trends and business activities C. National policy efforts, rules, tools, and exercise plans D. FEMA's core values
Q VALs' critical thinking skills and knowledge can inform: A. National economic trends and business activities B. Partneri. ... Q QUESTION 4 (20) Information and knowledge management systems are vulnerable to technical, organisational, and environmen. Answered over 90d ago. 100 % Q a. An incident response (IR) is the set of activities taken to ...
VALs' critical thinking skills and knowledge can inform: A. Partnering organizations' missions and values B. National economic trends and business activities C. National policy efforts, rules, tools, and exercise plans D. FEMA's core values
VALs' critical thinking skills and knowledge can inform National policy efforts, rules, tools, and exercise plans. Log in for more information. This answer has been confirmed as correct and helpful. Search for an answer or ask Weegy. There are no new answers. There are no comments. Log in or sign up first.