Critical Thinking

Consider the Quote

Your teachers in high school won’t expect you to remember every little fact about U.S history. They can fill in the details you’ve forgotten. What they will expect, though, is for you to be able to think; to know how to make connections between ideas and evaluate information critically.

What is Critical Thinking?

“Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, or communication, as a guide to belief and action”.

-The Foundation for Critical Thinking

Rephrasing this...

“Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.”

...Get information from

observation, experience, reflection, or communicaition

And think about it this way

conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing

To guide your

belief and action

Why is Critical Thinking Important?

Understand how ideas link together
Determine whether ideas are important or not
Find errors in reasoning
Approach problems systematically
Construct arguments well
Effectively use the Scientific Method
More effective Reading & Writing

Problem Solving needs critical thinking

...but it also needs Creative Thinking

It may unselttle some people who think they will be fine developing only one of these types of thinking. But think again.

And once you're out of school...

You’ll be able to think independently
You’ll be better able to make tough decisions
You’ll be more aware of when people are trying to trick you
You’ll be a better citizen
You'll improve your relationships
You'll be able to communicate more effectively

So What Can You Do to Improve Your Critical Thinking?

1. Be Openminded

Read or listen without judgement
Admit you don't know everything

2. Be Aware of how you think

Sometimes we think too fast and don’t think things through
Sometimes we have biases that affect our thinking

3. Ask Better Questions

Why is this important?
What effects come from this decision
What is this similar to?
What hasn't been considered?

4. Question Basic Assumptions

Assumptions need to be proven just like the rest of the problem.
And you can't assume that other people have thought as critically as they should.

5. Gather and Analyze Evidence

Where does the evidence come from? Is it credible?
How does this validate or disprove what I was thinking?

6. Communicate Your Ideas

When you come up with a conclusion, write it out or tell someone.
Hearing it will help you refine ideas that don't sound as good as you thought.

6. Reflect on your Thinking

Are you happy with your conclusion? Think about your thinking.
How was your process?
How does your conclusion affect other ideas?

7. Use Critical Thinking When Necessary

Not everything needs to be thought about or decided critically.

Overthinking something trivial is a waste of time.

This is a video talking about similar steps you can take to improve

So what's a good way to practice all of this?

Coming up with the conclusions is the hard part if your brain is rusty.

There are a lot of mental exercises you can do to work on your inductive skills.

Using analogies is one way to connect ideas.

DALMATIAN: DOG::

a) ant: insectb) horse: ponyc) oriole: birdd) shark: great whitee) stock: savings

MEDICINE: ILLNESS ::

a) law: anarchyb) hunger: thirstc) etiquette: disciplined) love: treasone) stimulant: sensitivity

EXTORT: OBTAIN ::

a) pilfer: stealb) plagiarize: borrowc) explode: ignited) purify: straine) consider: appeal

This Quiz will let you gauge your induction skills (Whiteboards)

Brain Pic: Courtesy: Shutterstock/Phonlamai Photo

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