This document defines critical thinking as an active process involving communication, problem-solving, evaluation, analysis, synthesis, and reflection to foster understanding, support decision-making, and guide action. It explains that critical thinking is important for students to develop skills valued by employers like problem-solving and logical communication. Failures in critical thinking can have disastrous consequences for society. For student learning, college requires deeper analysis than memorization, like evaluating scientific experiments, selecting appropriate math strategies, and analyzing perspectives in various fields.

2. REPRESENTED BY
 NAVNEET RANJAN
 ASHISH KUMAR

3. What is it?
How do I accomplish it?

4. What is Critical Thinking?
CRITICAL THINKING is the active and
systematic process of
 Communication
 Problem-solving
 Evaluation
 Analysis
 Synthesis
 Reflection
both individually and in community to
 Foster understanding
 Support sound decision-making and
 Guide action

5. Why is critical thinking important to students?
 Critical thinking is critical to
employers
 Can you analyze situations?
 Can you solve problems?
 Can you communicate your
position logically?
 Can you make good decisions
(based on data and logic, not
emotions or feelings)?

6. Why is critical thinking important to society?
 Failures in critical thinking are disastrous
 Space Shuttles Challenger & Columbia disasters
 9/11 Terrorist Attacks—NY World Trade Center &
Pentagon
 Iraqi WMD National Intelligence Estimate—led to
Iraq War
 Poor levee construction in New Orleans
 BP deepwater drilling safety procedures

7. Why is critical thinking important to student learning?
 College-level learning is deeper than
memorizing facts:
 Science – analyzing results of
experiments in light of existing
theories
 Math – selecting appropriate
problem-solving strategies
 Humanities – putting literature and
art into historical context
 Health fields – evaluating patients
and making decisions in clinical
settings
 Communications – debate;
persuasive writing
 Criminal justice/fire science –
reacting correctly to simulations
 Political science/sociology –
analyzing others’ points of view

8. Common Human Analytic Traits
 Start with conclusions (convergent thinking)
 Favor own intuitive solutions
 Take mental shortcuts (satisfice--take 1st acceptable
solution)
 Confuse discussion with analysis
 Rely too much on biases and bad assumptions
 Support solutions and evidence that reinforce our beliefs—and
reject other solutions and evidence
 Make decisions based on emotions and not reasoning
Most humans are functionally illiterate when it comes
to complex analysis!

9. Thinking is NOT Created Equally
Poor Thinking
 Aimless
 Emotionally Driven
 Dogmatic
 Undisciplined
Quality Thinking
 Accomplishes a Goal
 Seeks Truth
 Judicious (Critical)
 Generative (Creative)
Where we
want you
Majority of
people

10. Fundamental & Powerful
concept: Critical Thinking
 State (define): Critical thinking is thinking about your thinking,
while you’re thinking, in order to achieve better thinking (Paul &
Elder, 2006).
 Elaborate: Critical thinking is reflective, involves standards, is
authentic and involves being reasonable (Nosich, 2012, pp. 3-4).
 Exemplify: When a medical doctor examines a patient and
conducts medical tests, the process is active and systematic and
results in a correct diagnosis. When a person wagers on a horse race
based on their opinion about the horse’s name—it is not critical
thinking.
 Illustrate: Critical thinking is like a pair of binoculars—they allow
you to get up close, explore details, put what you see in context and
understand more of what you are seeing (Nosich, 2012, p. 34).

11. What is Creative Thinking?
 Creative thinking differs from critical thinking in this
it is expansive, focusing on producing unique solutions
(i.e., new alternatives)
 Creative thinking requires you to temporarily suspend
what you might know about a question or problem to
gain different perspectives.

12. Elements of Critical Thought
Implications and
Consequences
Point of
View
Purpose
Question
Information
Interpretation
and Inference
Essential
concepts
Assumptions
Source: Paul & Elder,
Foundation for
Critical Thinking