Transcript Examples of Critical Thinking

Examples of Critical Thinking
What is Critical Thinking?
CRITICAL THINKING is the active and systematic process
of
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Communication
Problem-solving
Evaluation
Analysis
Synthesis
Reflection
both individually and in community to
 Foster understanding
 Support sound decision-making and
 Guide action
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, not feelings)?
Why is critical thinking important to student learning?
 College-level learning is deeper than
memorizing facts:
 Science – analyzing results of
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experiments in light of existing
theories
Math – selecting appropriate
problem-solving strategy for word
problems
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
Why is critical thinking important to society?
 Failure in critical thinking are disastrous
 Space Shuttle Columbia
 Levee construction in New Orleans
 Faulty critical thinking can lead to wrong conclusions
 Biased polls adversely affect public opinion
 80 percent of Americans think the government is hiding
knowledge of the existence of aliens. 3 million Americans
believe they've had a possible encounter with aliens
Students’ What’s in it for me?
 Critical thinking in the world of
work
 Medical – evaluating patients’
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symptoms
Technology – problem-solving
software/engineering solutions
Counter-terrorism – synthesizing
intelligence to predict future events
Criminal justice/fire science –
analyzing the scene – whodunit?
Government – solving problems like
hurricane relief
Education – reflecting on student
success resulting from your teaching
Business – analyzing information to
detect trends; ethical decisions
Journalism – communicating fairly
Students’ What’s in it for me? (continued)
 Critical thinking in everyday life:
 How should I prepare for a
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hurricane? Should I evacuate?
What is the safest way to travel?
What is the slant of a news story?
What are my real chances of
winning the lottery?
Why is my good friend angry at me?
What questions should I ask myself
and my partner before getting
married?
Which phone company plan is best
for my needs?