University Learning, Critical Thinking, and Leadership

Prof. Al-Arian

IZU 001E: University Learning, Critical Thinking, and

Leadership Development

Prof. Dr. Sami A. Al-Arian

Spring 2021

Offıce: TD 208 Thursdays 13:30-15:30

Office Hours: Th 11:00-12:00 Classroom: TD 210
Email: sami.alarian@izu.edu.tr Cr. Hrs: 2 ECTS: 3
Teaching Assistant: Hüseyin İçen huseyin.icen@izu.edu.tr

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 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Course Objectives

The objective of this course is to understand and be prepared for university

learning environment; acquire required learning skills such as good study
habits, critical thinking, life and time management, leadership qualities,
and strategic planning; learning to work within a group or structure.

Course Description

Knowing your personality; University education; Developing

critical thinking skills; Learning good study habits; Researching and
writing academic papers; Learning time management skills;
Leadership development; Strategic planning; Importance of legal,
ethical, and moral conduct.
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 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Course Expectations

Ø Punctual attendance. This is mandatory and forms part of your

overall grading. Please contact me preferably prior to any
absence, or as soon as possible after the missed class.

Ø Come prepared to class.

Ø Engage with your reading. With everything you read ask

yourself: What is the author trying to say? From what
perspective and in what social/historical/philosophical/political
context are they writing? Do you disagree/agree with their
view? Why?

Ø Keep up-to-date with the required readings and if possible 3

with the extra secondary readings (useful for your written
papers).
 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Course Expectations (continued)

Ø Be honest with me. I am here to help you learn and form

your opinions and I really care about doing that well. If
you feel there is a certain area I could improve the class,
please don’t hesitate to let me know. I will keep an open
and friendly classroom atmosphere and am also
available to talk one-on-one or by email.

Ø Keep an open mind, engage with the material,

participate in class and treat your classmates with
respect. This means respecting divergent views as well
as allowing them to learn – class disruptions (walking in
and out, chatting etc.) will be reflected in your
participation grade.
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 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Grading System

Ø Class Attendance and Participation: 10%

Ø 6 Individual Exercises (5% each): 30%

[Note: 7 exercises will be assigned but the the lowest one will be dropped]

Ø Group Projects I: 10% (Due Nov. 25)

Ø Group Project II and Presentation: 20% (Due Jan. 6)

Ø Final Exam: 30%

Ø Grading: AA: 90-100; BA: 85-89.9; BB: 80-84.9; CB: 75-79.9;

CC: 70-74.9; DC: 60-69.9; DD: 55-59.9; FD: 50-54.9;
FF= below 50.
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 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Expectation for Class Attendance and Participation

The grade for class participation will be determined by the following

criteria:

Attendance: More than 2 unexcused absences will affect your grade (each
one will lose you a grade). You must provide a medical note if you are off
sick from class. Do not come to class sick!

Punctuality: Walking in late will interrupt your learning and that of your
classmates. Walking in and out of class during the lecture is strongly
discouraged.

Participation: A class exploring history, politics, and ideas will require

discussions and arguments. The quantity (less so) and quality (more
importantly) of your contributions to discussions will form a part of your
assessment grade. The most important part of this is doing the reading to 6
accompany each class. If you are shy about speaking in class talk to me if
this is an issue for you. 

 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Academic Integrity

Students may discuss the subject matter of their essays with anyone.
All students, however, must compose their own papers and may not
show or read their essays to any other persons except the instructor.

The use of another person’s words or ideas without proper
attribution constitutes plagiarism or false authorship. Both are
serious academic offenses. By turning in an essay, a student is
certifying that the essay is entirely his/her own work. If there are any
questions about this matter, consult with the instructor.

Plagiarism and Collusion are serious academic offences that will

not be tolerated under any circumstances and any violation will be
referred to the school administrators for disciplinary action and will
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be severely punished.
 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the use of another person’s ideas or expressions

without appropriate acknowledgment and presenting these ideas
or forms of expression as your own. It includes not only written
works such as books or journals, but data or images that may be
presented in tables, diagrams, designs, plans, photographs, film,
music, formulae, web sites and computer programs.

Plagiarism includes the use of the work of lecturers or other

students as your own without acknowledgment. Self-plagiarism
is the reuse of your own work without indicating that you have
reused it in other written format. 8
 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is avoided by appropriately acknowledging sources of your

ideas or expressions. In this case this means:

1. Providing an exact citation using an adequate referencing system at

the place where any idea or expression from another source is used,
whether directly quoted or paraphrased;

2. Clearly indicating where material is directly quoted (a direct quote

occurs if 5 or more words from another source are used exactly as
they are used in the original) by using quotation marks for short
quotes or indenting for longer quotes; and

3. Providing a full reference to the source in a list of references or

citations at the end of the work. 9
 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Quoting and Paraphrasing

A quote occurs when you use five or more words from another
source exactly as the words appear in the original. You are allowed
to incorporate quotes from the work of others into your work.
However, only a fraction of your work can be quoted. A paraphrase
is restating what someone else has said or written using your own
words.

A paraphrase is not achieved by simply altering the words from

another source slightly. A slight rewording is still effectively a
quote. You must either: (a) Provide an exact quote (and indicate
that it is a quote), or (b) Provide an appropriate paraphrase of the
ideas in your words. An appropriate paraphrase is normally
achieved by reading and taking notes, then closing the book and 10
writing your own words.
 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

What is Collusion?

Collusion involves working with others with the intention of

deceiving professors about who actually completed the work. For
example, if a student employs someone else to do their work for
them, that would constitute collusion. Or if one student willingly
allows another student to copy their work for an individual
assessment task, that would constitute collusion. In that case both
students may have committed an academic offence. Collusion is
not the same as collaboration. Collaboration is working together
on a task; collusion is doing so in an unauthorized manner. What
is authorized varies from task-to-task. For example, collaboration
is allowed or expected on many assignments, but for other tasks
such as exams and some in-class or online tests no collaboration is
allowed. If you have any doubt about what constitutes authorized 11
and unauthorized collaboration on a particular task you should
consult your professor.
 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Course Organization

[Class Notes and Reading Material Are Posted Online]

Week 1: Oct. 7 Introduction - University Learning

Week 2: Oct. 14 Knowing Your Personality

Introduction to Critical Thinking
Exercise 1 Due (Personality Test) Individual

Week 3: Oct. 21 Developing Critical Thinking Skills: Theory

Week 4: Nov. 4 Developing Critical Thinking Skills: Practice
Critical Thinking Skills: Examples/Fallacies
Exercise 2 Due (Critical Thinking) Group
Week 5: Nov. 11 Learning Good Study Habits/
The Art of Close Reading
Exercise 3 Due (Critical Thinking) Group 12
 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Week 6: Nov. 18 Time Management Skills and Techniques

Exercise 4 Due (Book Review) Individual

Week 7: Nov. 25 Project I Due [No Class - Midterm Exam Week]

(Critical Thinking – Fallacies) Group

Week 8: Dec. 2 Strategic Planning/SWOT Analysis

Developing Vision, Mission, Strategies, Goals
Exercise 5 Due (Time Management) Individual

Week 9: Dec. 9 Plan Development and Evaluation

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 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Week 10: Dec. 16 Researching and Writing Academic Papers

Week 11: Dec. 23 Effective Meetings/Meetings Rules of Order

Exercise 6 Due (Writing Papers) Individual

Week 12: Dec. 30 Leadership: Characteristics and Styles

Final Exam Review
Exercise 7 Due (Leadership) Individual

Week 13: Jan. 6 Project II Group Presentations/Project II Due

Group

Week 14: Jan. 10 week Final Exam Individual

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 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

The Nine Dot Problem

Solving Problems with Constraints/Conditions

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

1. Start from a single dot

2. Connect the nine dots with four straight lines
3. Without lifting the pen from the paper in one uninterrupted stroke
4. And without going back over the same line.
5. The lines may cross each other.
6. You may start at any dot.
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What does the solution reveal about the nature of leadership?
 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Thinking Logically

The Hats and Prisoners Problem

(1) Four prisoners Ali (A), Burhan (B), Camal (C), and Davut (D) are condemned to
death.
(2) Each prisoner needs to identify the color of his hat or all could would die or be
saved. (If one prisoner makes a mistake all would die.)
(2) Four hats, 2 whites and 2 blacks. One hat will be randomly placed on the head of
each prisoner, who can not see the color of his hat.
(3) One prisoner (D) would be in one room where he cannot see the other prisoners.
(4) The other 3 prisoners (A), (B), (C) are facing each other and can see the color of
the hats of the other two but not their own.
(5) Any prisoner (A, B, or C) may speak first within 3 seconds. If he correctly
identifies the color of his hat, he is temporarily spared and replaced by prisoner D.
(6) All the three remaining prisoners must identify the color of their own hats within 5
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seconds or all will be killed. The order of who speaks first is not important.
 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Training Your Mind

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 University Learning, Critical Thinking, and
Leadership Prof. Al-Arian

Exercise 1
Due Oct. 14

Know Your Personality

Take the test: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

Mind: I/E: Introverted/Extraverted

Energy: N/S: Intuitive/Observant
Nature: T/F: Thinking/Feeling
Tactics: J/P: Judging/Prospecting
Identity: A/T: Assertive/Turbulent
Example: Commander: ENTJ –A
Write 500-word summary from the personality test you took about your
personality type, qualities and shortcomings.
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