Critically Thinking about Critical Thinking
Critical thinking helps move us towards self-reliance, when we have not just memorized the solution to one problem, but used critical thinking instead, we have the ability to use the knowledge learned to solve many similar problems.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” – Lao Tzu
“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.” It is connecting ideas and making patterns, questioning our opinions and analyzing the evidence.
My gut tells me that critical thinking plays a huge role in a student’s engagement, and motivation to be a self-directed learner. Of all the instructional strategies we have learned in this course, without critical thinking, students are just showing up to be entertained or to get the credit. If they are able to think critically about what the instructor is teaching them, and the instructor promotes this behaviour, students will be able to conceptualize theories and apply reasoning to the topics learned.
I think I am critically thinking about critical thinking, relating it back to everything I have learned in this course. One must be able to think critically to be a self-directed learner, with the utilization of flipped classrooms and in group work. If students are not thinking critically than none of the other strategies will help to impact the students learning as significantly. This instructional strategy, along with others learned in this course can be used alongside every other tool to help synergize the students learning experience to get the most out of their learning opportunity.
In the classroom I will pay attention for any opportunities to ask guiding questions to the class to get them thinking about their thinking. Some specific exercises I can incorporate into my classroom are:
Ask questions that have multiple ways of reaching the answer
What are the pros and cons of the feature you are proposing for the new software?
Encourage discussions and class debates
Whenever presenting two theories (i.e. Critical Thinking Vs. Creative Thinking) have students research both topics on their own (think flipped classroom) before telling them which side they will defend during the in class debate.
Have students map the grey scale, it is not all black and white
Take two opposing ideas and have them include the points of contention for each idea somewhere along the continuum. Give students a total number of items to aim for on their map then display everyone’s map before a class discussion.
Use Riddles
These riddles could just be a fun engaging warm up for class to get everyone thinking critically and using their brains.
Buchanan, A. (n.d.). Integrating Critical Thinking Skills Into the Classroom. Retrieved from http://www.accessexcellence.org/LC/TL/buchanan/
Caroselli, M. (2009). 50 Activities for Developing Critical Thinking Skills. Retrieved from http://spers.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/50-activities-for-developing-critical-thinking-skills.pdf
Defining Critical Thinking. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766
Critical Thinking [Video]. (2009). Https://youtu.be/6OLPL5p0fMg.
What Teachers Need to Know about Critical Thinking Vs Creative Thinking. (2014, December 7). Retrieved from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/12/what-teachers-need-to-know-about.html
