Download Critical Thinking in Education

Critical Thinking in Education
Defining Critical Thinking
 Some Attributes of a Critical Thinker:
Asking
pertinent
questions
Curiosity
Seeks new
solutions
Admits a lack of
knowledge &
understanding
Seeks proof
Problem solver
Actively
shares new
knowledge
Distinguishes
between facts
and opinion
Seeks evidence to support
assumptions and beliefs
Seeks clarity and exactness
Careful and active observer
Evaluates statements
& arguments
Willing to examine beliefs,
assumptions & opinions
Sees critical thinking as a lifelong process of self-assessment
Reflective
Accepts others beliefs
and opinions
Actively enjoys
learning
Open to changing
ones mind
Waits till all facts
before making
judgments
Humility
Critical Thinking Model
Defining Critical Thinking &
Describing Critical Thinkers
 “Critical thinking is the disciplined mental activity of evaluating
arguments [information] or propositions and making judgments
that can guide the development of beliefs and taking action.”
Ennis (1992)
 Critical thinking is both a frame of mind and a set of mental
capabilities.
 “Critical thinkers: distinguish between fact and opinion; ask
questions; make detailed observations; uncover assumptions
and define their terms; and make assertions based on sound
logic and solid evidence. Ellis, D. Becoming a Master Student, 1997
Perspectives on Critical Thinking
 Critical thinking is based on concepts and
principles, not on hard and fast, or step-bystep, procedures.
 Critical thinking does not assure that one
will reach either the truth or correct
conclusions.
 Circuital thinking is a continuous process
and often doesn’t lead to a final conclusion.
 Critical thinking is hard intellectual work
 Critical thinking is an intellectual skill that
can (must) be learned and improved
Perspectives on Learning
All reasoning/thinking/learning:
 starts and progresses with questions and a
need to understand;
 occurs within points of view and frames of
reference;
 proceeds from some goals and objectives,
has an informational base;
 uses data/information that must be
interpreted and this interpretation involves
concepts, values, assumptions, past
knowledge, inferences, biases, etc.
Map of Thinking Domains
Scientific Thinking
•Understanding/theory
•Hypothesis
•Experiment(s)
•Observations
•Conclusion(s)
Creative Thinking
•Original Product
•Create Possibilities
•Create Metaphors
•Testing
•Refining
Decision Making
•Well-founded decision
•Consider options
•Predict consequences
•Select best option
Critical Thinking
•Critical judgment
•Assessing information
•Inference-using evidence
•Deduction-if…then
•New or refined perspective
Problem Solving
•Best solution
•Consider options
•Evaluate consequences
•Choose best solution
Creative Thinking
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Why is Critical Thinking Important?
To learn is to think.
To think poorly is to learn poorly.
To think well is to learn well.
All content, to be learned, must be
intellectually constructed.
 Memorizing IS NOT learning.
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Why Critical Thinking is Important
 Underlies reading, writing, speaking, and listening . . .
the basic elements of communication, learning and
education
 Plays an important role in social change
 Helps us uncover bias and prejudice
 Is a path to freedom form half-truths, prejudice and
deceptions
 Creates the willingness to change one point of view as
we continue to examine and re-examine ideas that may
seem obvious.
 Takes time and the willingness to say three essential
words: I don't know.
 Enables us to distinguish between fact and opinion, ask
good questions, make detailed observations, uncover
assumptions and define their terms, and make
assertions based on sound logic and solid evidence
Why Critical Thinking is Important
“The future now belongs to societies
that organize themselves for learning...
nations that want high incomes and full
employment must develop policies that
emphasize the acquisition of knowledge
and [thinking] skills by everyone, not
just a select few.”
Ray Marshall & Marc Tucker, Thinking For A Living: Education And The
Wealth of Nations, Basic Books. New York. 1992.
Questions & Critical Thinking
What do you mean by_______________?
How did you come to that conclusion?
What was said in the text?
What is the source of your information?
What is the source of information in the document?
What assumption led you to that conclusion?
Suppose you are wrong. What are the implications?
Why did you make that inference? Is another one
more consistent with the data?
 Why is this issue significant?
 How do I know that what you are saying is true?
 What is an alternate explanation for this
phenomenon?
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Enabling Learners to Become
Quality Critical Thinkers
IDEALS -- Six Steps to Effective Thinking
 Identify the problem. — “What’s the real question
we’re facing here?”
 Define the context. — “What are the facts and
circumstances that frame this problem?”
 Enumerate choices. — “What are our most plausible
three or four options?”
 Analyze options. — “What is our best course of action,
all things considered?”
 List reasons explicitly. — “Let’s be clear: Why we are
making this particular choice?”
 Self-correct. — “Okay, let’s look at it again. What did
we miss?”
Questions?