Course Information
Critical Thinking Fundamentals
Parking for SAO, Professional Development courses is in Garage B (1511 San Jacinto Blvd.). The Garage signage may read 1511 San Jacinto or Garage B. The elevator in Garage B is not reliable. If you are unable to walk the stairs, please contact the professionaldevelopment@sao.texas.gov for alternate parking arrangements. Handicapped parking is free at the meters around the downtown area.
A course coordinator will Email you a parking permit prior to the course start date. A permit must be displayed or you will be ticketed.
Course Description
Critical thinking is a key skill for everyone. Critical thinking helps individuals solve problems and build strategies that make them better professionally and personally. Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas. It is about being an active learner rather than a passive recipient of information. Critical thinking enhances communication and presentation skills. Thinking clearly and systematically improves our ability to express our ideas. Critical thinkers rigorously question ideas and assumptions rather than accepting them at face value. Critical thinkers identify, analyze and solve problems systematically rather than by intuition or instinct. This course teaches participants what critical thinking is, the barriers to critical thinking and way to improve critical thinking skills.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
• Understand the links between ideas
• Determine the importance and relevance of arguments and ideas
• Learn to recognize the barriers that prevent critical thinking and how to remove them
• Recognize, build and appraise arguments
• Identify inconsistencies and errors in reasoning
• Approach problems in a consistent and systematic way
• Reflect on the justification of their own assumptions, beliefs and values
Prerequisites
No prerequisites required.
Instructors
C.I.A. QIAL, CRMA, CGAP, CFE
Auditor General – Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Responsible for the internal audit function for a company with an operating budget of over $15 billion and a capital program of $5 billion. Monitor budget of $10 million with a staff of 102 professionals. Responsibilities include providing audit coverage for MTA HQ and its’ Agencies consisting of NYC Transit, Long Island Railroad, Metro North, Bridges and Tunnels and MTA Bus, MTA Capital Corp. Develop a comprehensive risk based audit plan approach. Established internal Integrity Monitoring Audit Section, approved by the Federal Transportation Authority for Superstorm Sandy Federal Funds of over $4 Billion. Performed key consulting type engagements that included the development process of the MTA All Agency budget that totals more than $20 billion, establishment of quarterly financial statements and creation of the Business Service Center. Extensive knowledge of Sarbanes Oxley requirements and led numerous internal control assessment reviews. Identified savings of over $100 million annually. Conducted numerous quality assurance reviews of major transit properties in the U.S. Member MTA’s Executive Team. Report directly to the Chairman and Audit Committee of the MTA’s Board of Directors. Frequent speaker at auditing events on key current topics.
Additional Information
TAC Rule 523.142(g) requires the CPE Sponsor to monitor individual attendance and assign the correct number of CPE credits. Participants will be asked to document their time of arrival and departure in compliance with this Rule. Additionally, attendance will be monitored throughout the day and CPE certificates will reflect actual attendance of each participant.
If you are making travel plans to come to Austin, we recommend making "refundable" air and hotel reservations or waiting until 14 days before the class to actually book your reservations. Courses are occasionally canceled or rescheduled due to low enrollment. We determine whether a course has enough participants 16 days prior to the course date. If we cancel or reschedule, we will email the participant and his or her billing contact no later than 14 days before the original class date.
Vending machines with Coca-Cola products and various snack items are available. There is also a refrigerator and microwave in our coffee bar area. Feel free to bring in your own drinks and food if you prefer.
You might want to bring a light sweater or jacket, as room temperatures vary.
To see answers to our Frequently Asked Questions, visit http://www.sao.texas.gov/training/faq.html.