Critical thinking

2. Critical thinking
Expected outcome:
Why we need critical thinking
Participants have the ability to use critical thinking in their life
Learning Objectives:
What is critical thinking?
How to apply critical thinking process?
Characteristics of good critical thinker
The differences between creative thinking and critical thinking

3. Introduction
Without critical thinking you basically become a parrot, just
mouthing the voice of others. Some think that critical
thinking involves going against the popular view of things,
but not every rebel is a critical thinker. The key is to
consider the viewpoint of the source of your information, as
well as understanding your own biases. Many claim to be
give unbiased facts, but in reality everyone has a viewpoint
that guides how we present and absorb information. The
trick is to know your bias, and consider how that may cloud
your judgment. If you challenge everything, you can stand
confident that you aren't being fooled.

4. What is critical thinking?
Activity: Study the first pair of shapes in each example. Think about how A changes into B. Then look at C.
Which of the six numbered shapes changes in relation to C in the same way that A changes to B? Find that
shape. Circle the number of your answer:
-Critical thinking is :
 the ability to think clearly and rationally.
 making reasoned judgments that are logical and well thought out.
 critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it (critical
thinking by Richard Paul &Linda Elder)
Try This: Explain Write a sentence or two to tell why you chose the answer you
did.
Critical
thinking
≠Criticizing
Note

5. -Critical thinking process:
Step 1: Knowledge
In terms of critical thinking, the basic level of acquisition of knowledge requires that you be able to identify
what is being said: the topic, the issue, the thesis, and the main points.
Step 2: Comprehension
Comprehension means understanding the material read, heard or seen.
In comprehending, you make the new knowledge that you have
acquired your own by relating it to what you already know.
The better you are involved with the information, the better
you will comprehend it. As always, the primary test of whether
you have comprehended something is whether you can put what you
have read or heard into your own words.
Step 3: Application
Application requires that you know what you have read, heard, or seen, that you comprehend it, and that you
carry out some task to apply what you comprehend to an actual situation.
Step 4: Analysis
Analysis involves breaking what you read or hear into its component parts, in order to make clear how the
ideas are ordered, related, or connected to other ideas. Analysis deals with both form and content
Step 5: Synthesis
Synthesis involves the ability to put together the parts you analyzed with other information to create
something original
Step 6: Evaluation
Evaluation occurs once we have understood and analyzed what is
said or written and the reasons offered to support it. Then we can
appraise this information in order to decide whether you can give
or withhold belief, and whether or not to take a particular action.
Remember that comprehending
something implies that you can
go beyond merely parroting the
material back but instead that
you can give the material your
own significance
Never put evaluation ahead of the
other steps in critical thinking
steps; otherwise, you will be
guilty of a "rush to judgment."
When emotion substitutes for
reasons, evaluation incorrectly
precedes analysis.

6. Activity: Think about someone you consider to be a critical thinker (friend, prof, historical figure, etc).
What qualities does he/she have?
-Characteristics of critical thinker:
.Curiosity: Allow yourself to be curious. Great critical thinkers tune
into their desire to continue learning and understanding how things work.
Be inquisitive about anything and ask questions other may have but don’t
ask.
Humility: Great critical thinkers understand that their ideas may not be the
best and that they do not know everything. that once you accept that you don’t
know everything you’re more likely to continue your search for answers.
Ability to research: Don’t have an answer? Aren’t satisfied with an answer? Does
something sound a little off? The ability to research things and bring in multiple
resources will unveil a lot.
Active Listening: Don’t just hear what others have to say, engage in conversation.
Objectivity: Great critical thinkers have the ability to remain objective. They understand the goal, stay
focused and don’t let their emotions (or others’) cloud their judgment.
Creativity: Allow yourself to be creative. Brainstorming without judgment can spark
amazing ideas. Thinking outside the box may create a solution. Sometimes denying
ourselves this freedom holds us back more than we’d like to think.
Critical thinker also should be:

7. The differences between critical thinking and creative thinking:
Creative thinking involves creating something new or original. It involves
the skills of flexibility, originality, fluency, elaboration, brainstorming,
modification, imagery, associative thinking, attribute listing, metaphorical
thinking, and forced relationships. The aim of creative thinking is to stimulate
curiosity and promote divergence.
CRITICAL THINKING CREATIVE THINKING
Analytic Generative
Convergent Divergent
Vertical Lateral
Probability Possibility
Judgement Suspended judgement
Hypothesis testing Hypothesis forming
Objective Subjective
Answer An answer
Closed Open-ended
Linear Associative
Reasoning Speculating
Logic Intuition
Yes but Yes and
-Habits of mind:
are attitudes and beliefs that influence how you approach the world (i.e. inquiring attitude, open mind,
respect for truth, etc).
Confidence  Assurance of one's reasoning abilities
Contextual Perspective  Consider
 ation of the whole situation, including
relationships, background, and environment,
relevant to some happening
Creativity  Intellectual inventiveness used to generate,
discover, or restructure ideas, imagining
alternatives
Flexibility  Capacity to adapt, accommodate, modify, or

8. change thoughts, ideas, and behaviors
Inquisitiveness  An eagerness to know by seeking knowledge and
understanding through observation and thoughtful
questioning in order to explore possibilities and
alternatives
Intellectual Integrity  Process of seeking the truth through sincere,
honest means, even if the results are contrary to
one's assumptions and beliefs
Intuition  Insightful sense of knowing without conscious use
of reason
Open-mindedness  A viewpoint characterized by being receptive to
divergent views and sensitive to one's biases
Perseverance  Pursuit of a course with determination to
overcome obstacles
Reflection  Contemplation of a subject, especially one's
assumptions and thinking, for the purposes of
deeper understanding and self-evaluation
Remember that: