Critical Thinking - Louisiana Tech University
INFUSINGCRITICALTHINKING INTOCURRICULUMSome critical thinking materials copied or adapted from the Foundation for Critical ThinkingJulie M. Rutledge &Amy M. YatesSchool of Human EcologyLouisiana Tech University
TRUE OR FALSE?All humans use their thinking to make sense of the world.Our students have to understand that this is (a) true and (b) necessary in order to understand the importance and value of not just learningmaterial to make an A on an exam or in a class.
OPINIONS, FACTS ANDCRITICAL THOUGHT“A public opinion poll is no substitutefor thought.” Warren Buffet“Too often we enjoy the comfort ofopinion without the discomfort ofthought.” John. F. Kennedy“Everyone is entitled to their ownopinion, but not to their own facts.”Daniel Patrick Moynihan“The majority have no other reason fortheir opinions other than that they arein fashion.” Samuel Johnson“Opinion is the exercise of the humanwill which helps us to make a decisionwithout information.” John ErskineWhat is the general theme or messageof all of these quotes?What is the difference between aninformed and uninformed opinion?How can you tell when an opinion isbased on facts? On emotions? Onpersonal experience?Which type of opinion is easier toargue against, an informed oruninformed opinion? Why?
WHY CRITICALLYTHOUGHT OUTOPINIONS?The ability to form and articulate opinions is extremely important in allfacets of life.As citizens, people need to form opinions about political issues andleaders in order to vote responsibly.We must form opinions about social issues, and we form opinions aboutthe people we work and interact with on a daily basis.However, simply having an opinion about a given topic is not enough. Wemust be educated about the topics we are discussing.Presenting an informed, educated opinion is much more effective thansharing one based on emotion or personal experience alone.In presenting our own opinions and work or thinking about those of others– we need to use critical thinking skills to develop a deeper understandingof the topic.
WHAT IS CRITICALTHINKING?The ability to think clearly and rationally. It includes the ability toengage in reflective and independent thinking.Someone with critical thinking skills is able to do the following : understand the logical connections between ideasidentify, construct and evaluate argumentsdetect inconsistencies and common mistakes in reasoningsolve problems systematicallyidentify the relevance and importance of ideasreflect on the justification of one's own beliefs and valuesClarity and rationalityconstitute the commoncore across the differentconceptions on criticalthinking.
WHAT ISN’T CRITICALTHINKING?Accumulating informationHaving a good memory/knowing a lot of factsBeing argumentativeBeing critical of other peopleDo not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe inanything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe inanything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. - Buddha
WHY DO WE CARE ASEDUCATORS IF OURSTUDENTS CANCRITICALLY THINK Using a sports analogy We’re the basketball coach and you’re the athlete What if you came to practice and could only take notes and watch your coach instead of gettingin there and trying it out yourself then on gameday You have to be on the court – you can’t watch the coach play but you’ve never held the ball ortried to shoot a basket because all you’ve done is watch and listen to your coach. You will havelearned some things but not as much as if your had the opportunity to practice yourself with thehelp and guidance of your coach.moral of the story – students need to do their own thinking and their own work“I want to play on Sunday” – Roger Federer (Tennis slams have finals on Sundaysafter two weeks of play) Everyone wants to be there (play on Sunday, get an A in class, be an expert, get a job) but whatdid he (Federer) do to get there? And what do you need to do to get there (get an A, become anexpert, get a job)? These are what students need to be thinking about – what do you need to doto get there? You cannot move through life getting lines on a resume – there has to be substance behind thoselines – when you’re faced with situations when you don’t have Google and don’t have notes anddon’t have a book – you are responsible for what the meaning behind those (resume) lines is.
THE FUNDAMENTALPURPOSE OF TEACHING ISTO PASS KNOWLEDGE ONTO STUDENTS SO THEYMAY APPLY THATKNOWLEDGEIN THEIRSo we have to examine content in depthFIELD Like peeling back the parts of an artichoke until you get to the heart When students are working with course content – they should have questions andtopics of discussion. If they do not – they need to be asking themselves Am I engaging my mind in this? They have to bring something to the table too!
WITH COURSE MATERIAL,WE WANT STUDENTS TOAPPLY THE 5 LEARNINGMODALITITES.CloseReadingREADTHINK DEEPLY TEN TO OTHERS sciplinedSpeaking
SOME TIPS When students are working on in-class activities or small-group projects in class,use time hints Have a secondary task they can work on if they finish the first task that takes them deeper intothinking about/applying the materials so all students are engaged during the entire working timeHave them write down responses to discussion questions, write down their questions,come to class with 5 questions, etc.With material, help them develop a seeing eye.S – state essential idea à to me is .E – elaborate on statement à In other words, .E – exemplify (bring from abstract to concrete) à For example, .I – illustrate (metaphor/analogy) à To illustrate, . Critical thinking to me is active, thoughtful, evaluative thinking. In other words, it is examininginformation and making conclusions based on all of the knowledge available after consideringalternatives and consequences. For example, taking the problems and situations of everyday lifeand come to a conclusion based on information and thought. It is like a baby learning how to walk– many trial and error situations until you come to the best conclusion of how to walk. If you have students working on things like this individually, they can stand or raise their hand asthey finish à as soon as 2 finish, they can get together and begin a discussion on the topic. So,there is less waiting in class.
WE CANNOT THINK OFSTUDENTS AS A BLANKSLATEI talk – you listenThey listen to what we say through filters Bring assumptions regarding how people look/talk/act in addition to a lens aboutwhat we’re learning and teaching
QUESTIONS YOU ANDSTUDENTS CAN ASK EACHOTHER OR RELATE TOMATERIAL TO THINK ABOUTITMOREDEEPLYCLARITY– Could you elaborateBREADTH – Do we need to look at thisfurther? Could you give me anfrom another perspective? Do we needexample? Could you illustrate what youmean?to consider another point of view? Dowe need to look at this in other ways?ACCURACY – How could we check onthat? How could we find out if that istrue? How could we verify or test that?LOGIC – Does all this make sensetogether? Does your first paragraph fitwith your last? Does what you sayfollow from the evidence?PRECISION – Could you be morespecific? Could you give me moredetails? Could you be more exact?RELEVANCE - How does that relate tothe problem? How does that bear onthe question? How does that help uswith the issue?DEPTH – What factors make this adifficult problem? What are some ofthe difficulties we need to deal with?SIGNIFICANCE – Is this the mostimportant problem to consider? Is thisthe central idea to focus on? Which ofthese facts are most important?FAIRNESS – Do I have any vestedinterest in this issue? Am Isympathetically representing theviewpoints of others?
PICTURES ANDRESOURCESFrom Critical ThinkingBooks
GENERAL
SCIENCE
ENGINEERING
ADDITIONALINFORMATIONCritical Thinking
Critical thinking is not a matter of accumulating information.A person with a good memory and who knows a lot of facts is notnecessarily good at critical thinking.A critical thinker is able to deduce consequences from what he know, andhe knows how to make use of information to solve problems, and to seekrelevant sources of information to inform himself.Critical thinking should not be confused with being argumentative or beingcritical of other people.Although critical thinking skills can be used in exposing fallacies and badreasoning, critical thinking can also play an important role in cooperativereasoning and constructive tasks.Critical thinking can help us acquire knowledge, improve our theories, andstrengthen arguments.We can use critical thinking to enhance work processes and improve socialinstitutions.Good critical thinking might be seen as the foundation of science. Sciencerequires the critical use of reason in experimentation and theoryconfirmation.
4 REASONS TO STUDYCRITICAL THINKING1. It is a domain-general thinking skill. The ability to think clearly and rationally isimportant whatever we choose to do. If you work in education or research thencritical thinking is obviously important. But critical thinking skills are not restrictedto a particular subject area. Being able to think well and solve problemssystematically is an asset for any career.2. It enhances language and presentation skills. Thinking clearly and systematically canimprove the way we express our ideas. In learning how to analyze the logicalstructure of texts, critical thinking also improves comprehension skills.3. It promotes creativity. To come up with a creative solution to a problem involvesnot just having new ideas. It must also be the case that the new ideas beinggenerated are useful and relevant to the task at hand. Critical thinking plays acrucial role in evaluating new ideas, selecting the best ones and modifying themif necessary.4. It is crucial for self-reflection. In order to live a meaningful life and to structure ourlives accordingly, we need to justify and reflect on our values and decisions.Critical thinking provides the tools for this process of self-evaluation.
ATTITUDES THAT WILLNOT HELP YOURCRITICAL THINKING I prefer being given the correct answers rather than figuring them outmyselfI don’t like to think a lot about my decisions as I rely only on gutfeelingsI don’t usually review the mistakes I have madeI don’t like to be criticized
I ALREADY KNOW HOWTO THINKYes but Just like any skill – practice and education can improve itHow can thinking critically help you improve your thinking? Hold ideas at arm’s length and examine it before accepting it into your mentalframework A habit of cautious evaluation
CRITICAL THINKING FINDING FAULTNot on a fault finding missionSometimes information will be badSometimes information will be goodCritical thinking should not teach you to be cynical and negative just toevaluate the world in which you live with more of an “open eye”. It is meant to be constructive and helpful. It’s meant to separate ideas from their vehicles –to separate true from false – accurate from distorted – complete from incomplete. A good critical thinker will be open to opposing arguments and ideas, carefully consideringthe merit and weight of each one, recognizing that he or she can always learn somethingform others, and might even be wrong in a current position.
PAY ATTENTION!Critical thinkers pay attention! Having a lazy attitude toward incoming information is grounds for deception by thosewho would wish to deceive you.If you were hungry for some Old Chicago Style pizza – you might go“to your local grocer’s freezer” and look for some. Let’s say you sawtwo boxes – one said Old Chicago Style frozen pizza and the othersaid Old Chicago frozen pizza. Old Chicago Style frozen pizza isactually made in California. Its sausage flavor variety is sausageflavor variety, not sausage variety. The “sausage” is really texturedvegetable protein – not sausage. Here’s an example where you coulduse critical thinking in your everyday life – not just taking informationat face value.
PAUL & ELDER BOOKCritical Thinking definition: The art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.Critical Thinking is: rrective
THE ELEMENTS OFTHOUGHTPoint ofView:Frame ConsequencesPurpose:Goal,objectiveQuestion atIssue:Problem,issueElements ofThoughtInterpretation andinference:Assumptions:Presupposition, taking forgrantedInformation:Data, ,solutions
A CHECKLIST FORREASONINGAll reasoning has a PURPOSEAll reasoning is an attempt to FIGURE something out, to settle someQUESTION, solve some PROBLEMAll reasoning is based on ASSUMPTIONSAll reasoning is done from some POINT OF VIEWAll reasoning is based on DATA, INFORMATION & EVIDENCEAll reasoning is expressed through, and shaped by, CONCEPTS andIDEASAll reasoning contains INFERENCES or INTERPRETATIONS by which wedraw CONCLUSIONS and give meaning to dataAll reasoning leads somewhere or has IMPLICATIONS andCONSEQUENCES
HOW CAN YOU APPLYCRITICAL THINKING TOYOUR lusionsConceptsYou can ask yourself questions relatedto the 8 elements of thinking.Purpose: What am I trying toaccomplish?Questions: What question am I raising?Information: What information am Iusing to come to this conclusion?Inferences/Conclusions: How did Ireach this conclusion?Concepts: What is the main idea here?Assumptions: What am I taking forgranted?Implications/Consequences Implications/Consequences: What amI implying?Points of View: From what point ofPoints of Viewview am I looking at this issue?Assumptions
PURPOSEAll reasoning has a purposeState your purpose clearlyDistinguish your purpose from related purposesCheck periodically to be sure you are still are targetChoose significant and realistic purposes
QUESTIONSAll reasoning is an attempt to figure something out, to settle somequestion, solve some problemState the question at issue clearly and preciselyExpress the question in several ways to clarify its meaning and scopeBreak the question into sub-questionsDistinguish questions that have definitive answers from those that are amatter of opinion and from those that require consideration of multipleviewpoints
INFORMATIONAll reasoning is based on data, information, and evidenceRestrict your claims to those supported by the data you haveSearch for the information that opposes your position as well asinformation that supports itMake sure that all information used is clear, accurate, and relevant tothe question at issueMake sure you have gathered sufficient information
INFERENCES/CONCLUSIONSAll reasoning contains inferences or interpretations by which we drawconclusions and give meaning to dataInfer only what the evidence impliesCheck inferences for their consistency with each otherIdentify assumptions that lead you to your inferences
CONCEPTSAll reasoning is expressed through, and shaped by, concepts andideasIdentify key concepts and explain them clearlyConsider alternative concepts or alternative definitions of conceptsMake sure you are using concepts with care and precision
ASSUMPTIONSAll reasoning is based on assumptionsClearly identify your assumptions and determine whether they arejustifiableConsider how your assumption are sharing your point of view
IMPLICATIONS/CONSEQUENCESAll reasoning leads somewhere or has implications and consequencesTrace the implications and consequences that follow from yourreasoningSearch for negative as well as positive implicationsConsider all possible consequences
POINT OF VIEWAll reasoning is done from some point of viewIdentify your point of viewSeek other points of view and identify their strengths as well asweaknessesStrive to be fair-minded in evaluating all points of view
WHAT IS EGOCENTRICTHINKING?People who are egocentric thinkers are convinced that theirunderstanding of things is the absolute truth. Innate Egocentrism: It’s true because I believe itInnate Sociocentrism: It’s true because we believe itInnate Wish Fulfillment: It’s true because I want to believe itInnate Self-Validation: It’s true because I have always believe itInnate Selfishness: It’s true because it is in my selfish interest to believe it
CRITICAL THINKING 1.It is a domain-general thinking skill. The ability to think clearly and rationally is important whatever we choose to do. If you work in education or research then critical thinking is obviously important. But critical thinking skills are not restricted to a particular subject area. Being able to think well and solve problems
Critical Thinking Skills vs. Critical Thinking Disposition Critical Thinking Skills are the cognitive processes that are involved in critical thinking Critical Thinking Disposition is the attitudes, habits of mind or internal motivations that help us use critical thinking skills.
2.2 Application of Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice 2.3 Traits of the Critical Thinker 2.4 Pitfalls in Critical Thinking 2.5 Critical Thinking Models 2.6 Critical Thinking Skills 2.6.1 Six Core Thinking Skills 2.6.2 Critical Thinking Skills in Nursing 2.6.3 Elements of Thoughts and the N
The Role of Critical Thinking in Problem Analysis Brian D. Egan, M.Sc., MBA, PMP Introduction Contrary to what the name implies, critical thinking is not thinking that is critical of others. It is “fundamental” or “vital” thinking. Critical thinking is thinking that drills down to the essence of a problem. It is introspective
USG Critical Thinking Conference -Athens, GA* International Conference on Critical Thinking - Berkeley, CA* i2a Institute Critical Thinking Conference -Louisville, KY Spring Academy on Critical Thinking by The Foundation for Critical Thinking -Houston, TX Please coordinate with other conference attendees to
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Ashley N. Freeman Lake Charles, Louisiana Samuel T. French Fayette, Mississippi Samantha G. Gahn Baton Rouge, Louisiana Landon P. Gauthier Gonzales, Louisiana John C. Ginart Chalmette, Louisiana Andres Gomez Lafayette, Louisiana . Taylor Alexander . Lake Charles, Louisiana
Louisiana Purchase PowerPoint Notes Answer Key Louisiana 1. Louisiana was the large area west of the Mississippi River. 2. 1762 - Louisiana was given to Spain after the French & Indian War. 3. 1800 - France took control of Louisiana New Orleans 4. What was the largest port in Louisiana? New Orleans 5. What were the American farmers worried .
Critical thinking is more holistic as it seeks to assess, question, verify, infer, interpret, and formulate. Analytical thinking can be considered a step in the critical thinking process. When you have a complex problem to solve, you would want to use your analytical skills before your critical thinking skills. Critical thinking does involve .
Thomas Coyne, LEM, Dir. Greg Lesko Nina Mascio Debbie Walters, LEM Faith Formation Lori Ellis, LEM, Religious Education Baptism/Marriage Please contact Lori Ellis at 412-462-8161 Confession Schedule Mondays at St. Therese at 7:00 p.m. Saturdays at Holy Trinity from 3:00-3:45 p.m. Saturdays at St. Max from 3:00-3:45 p.m. Hall Rentals Please call 412-461-1054 Website www.thomastheapostle.net .
