Critical Thinking is a Process in Social Studies
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, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness.
(Michael Scriven & Richard Paul, presented at the 8th Annual International Conference on Critical Thinking and Education Reform) |
Components Of Critical Thinking
1. Identify the problem or situation, then define what influenced this to occur in the first place. 2. Investigate the opinions and arguments of the individuals involved in this process. Any time you have differences of opinions, it is vital that you research independently, so as not to be influenced by a specific bias. 3. Evaluate information factually. Recognizing predispositions of those involved is a challenging task at times. It is your responsibility to weigh the information from all sources and come to your own conclusions. 4. Establish significance. Figure out what information is most important for you to consider in the current situation. Sometimes, you just have to remove data points that have no relevance. 5. Be open-minded and consider all points of view. This is a good time to pull the team into finding the best solution. This point will allow you to develop the critical-thinking skills of those you lead. 6. Take time to reflect once you have gathered all the information. In order to be decisive and make decisions quickly, you need to take time to unwrap all the information and set a plan of attack. If you are taking time to think about the best solution, keep your workforce and leaders apprised of your process and timeline. 7. Communicate your findings and results. This is a crucial yet often overlooked component. Failing to do so can cause much confusion in the organization. From: The Seven Key Steps Of Critical Thinking by Chris Cebollero |
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The first 20 minutes of this Podcast "Demographics are a Timebomb" is a good example of the application of critical thinking and data to present an argument about the opportunities and challenges around demographic decline.
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