...Critical Thinking Reflection HUM/114 October 12, 2015 Brandi Rowley Critical Thinking Reflection The three lessons that I have learned from this course are, the Eight Steps Process to Becoming a Better Critical Thinker, Barriers to Critical Thinking, and the Five-Step Model of Problem Solving. The Eight-Step Process to Becoming a Better Critical Thinker The Eight Step process to becoming a better critical thinker is important, before this class, I really did not think that there was a process to something that I already knew/did. When working on the process of becoming a better critical thinker, it should be a good idea, to carry around a notepad. This way you can research. The first step is to recognize the need to improve your critical thinking. The second step is recognizing what barriers prevent me from developing the critical thinking skills. The third step, is trying to find out how I can modify or replace them. The fourth step is determining the reliability of the source. Fifth step is to determine the credibility of the source. Sixth step understands the steps for problem solving. The seventh reason is applying problem solving skills to your everyday life. The eight step, should lead you towards becoming a better critical thinker. Barriers to critical thinking The second lesson that I learned in this course, is the barriers there are against Critical Thinkers. Learning about what can prevent me from becoming a critical thinking...
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...Material Stages of Critical Thinking Part 1: Stages of Critical Thinking Complete the matrix by identifying the four beginning stages of critical thinking as detailed in Critical Thinking. |Stages of critical thinking |Stage description | |Unreflective Thinker |Have no useful concept of what thinking entails. They do not notice that they are | | |making assumptions, forming concepts, drawing conclusions. In this stage we do not | | |know how to analyze and assess our thinking. You cannot determine whether our purposes| | |are clearly formulated, assumptions justified and if our conclusions are logically | | |drawn. They are not aware of intellectual traits and do not embody them. In this stage| | |we lack intellectual traits but are unaware we lack them. We create and maintain | | |pleasant illusions. We make decisions, react to people, go out way in life and never | | |questions our thinking. We lack the skills and motivation to notice how self- centered| | |and prejudiced we are, how we stereotype others,...
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...Critical Thinking Listening to a seminar/webinar, having to change an organization’s policy, hiring new personnel – all require critical thinking. Just about everybody has used critical thinking in his or her decision making at one time; perhaps without realizing it. If managers do not use critical thinking, they could make a wrong decision and react without thinking. Knowing the difference between critical thinking and decision making is vital in making wise decisions. In this paper, I will explain how I perceive critical thinking, along with brief descriptions on the traits of a critical thinker. Definition “Critical thinking is the art of thinking about thinking while thinking in order to make thinking better.” Three interwoven phases are involved with critical thinking: 1. It analyzes thinking “by focusing on the parts of thinking in any situation—its purpose, question, information, inferences, assumptions, concepts, implications, and point of view.” 2. It evaluates thinking “by figuring out its strengths and weaknesses: the extent to which it is clear, accurate, precise, relevant, deep, broad, logical, significant, and fair.” 3. It improves thinking “by building on its strengths while reducing its weaknesses.” (Paul, Richard and Elder, Linda 2006) A critical thinker must be willing to take apart his or her idea. How does it stand up to facts? How will it be translated? Do others understand it effectively? Is it biased, prejudiced, partial, distorted...
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...Critical Thinking Application Paper Critical thinking techniques are required when contemplating making important decision using sound judgments from fact based information, point of view, and beliefs. These decisions using critical thinking on important issues will affect one’s work life, friendships, relationships, family, and a whole array of other important issues not only on specific issues, but also in life in general as well. The quality level of these different aspects of one’s life can be enhanced through critical thinking. People use critical thinking to analyze their thoughts and ideas, which are generated by his or her own mind. One needs to determine how these thoughts and ideas are formed and how he or she can change them based on other sound ideas and viewpoints and reasoning. Critical thinking is one’s way of thinking how they are thinking while thinking of ways to improve on his or her thinking (Paul & Elder, 2006). Critical Thinking allows one to become better decision makers and to communicate with others with a higher level of confidence. Essential Traits of Critical Thinking Several essential traits or characteristics of critical thinking for a disciplined mind are required to enhance the thinking process. These traits and characteristics are interrelated with each other and create intellectual habits, which helps the mind to focus and become more disciplined to become a better critical thinker (Paul & Elder, 2006). The intellectual traits and characteristics...
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... Critical Thinking Is Understanding “Which form of human thinking is preferable: knowledge or understanding?” In order to examine this question, a close look at the concepts of knowledge and understanding must take place. The first task is to define the two parts of thinking, both knowledge and understanding. In the simplest terms, knowledge is facts and understanding is meaning that is given to those facts. However, there is objectivity and subjectivity to consider in relation to both knowledge and understanding. First, knowledge can be considered more objective because it is raw facts, and not subject to a person’s interpretation of facts or what the knowledge “means.” This is because what the knowledge “means” will be different for different people. In other words, understanding is subjective because it is based on a person’s unique human emotions, opinions and judgments. This is how understanding is interpreted for the person, and how raw knowledge is turned into something more meaningful for the person who learns a new fact. It can be argued that understanding will always require some level of subjectivity. What this means is a fact can not be fully “understood” unless it is put through the filter of a person’s own experience. This is naturally a subjective process. However, without knowledge, understanding could not occur. It is clear that both types of human thinking are important to human development and advancing society that is based on critical reasoning...
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...Syllabus College of Humanities PHL/458 Version 2 Creative Minds and Critical Thinking Copyright © 2009, 2005 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description In this course, students will analyze the thinking process from a critical and creative perspective. The lives of prominent creative thinkers will be examined to identify the social, historical, psychological, and cultural elements that influenced their development. The salient aspects of creativity will be assessed along with the relationship between creativity and critical thinking. Students will apply critical thinking skills to contemporary creative and scientific thought. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Ruggiero, V. R. (2009). The art of thinking: A guide to critical and creative thought (9th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Longman. All electronic materials are available on the student...
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...Essays are an essential element of learning, particularly at an undergraduate level. With a well-written essay comes the power to change minds, to influence thinking and create new perspectives. When evaluating the claims presented by a source in an academic essay, a critical and reflective thinker does not simply accept arguments as ‘fact’. Nor do they create arguments based on innuendo and bias. This essay will contend that for students at university level to be taken seriously they must use critical and reflective thinking to write an effective academic essay. The following points will be addressed; what constitutes a credible essay, what is critical thinking and reflective practice, what is the importance of these skills in developing arguments, the benefits of thinking critically and reflectively, the use of critical reflective thinking in evaluating sources and the importance of recognizing those sources correctly for the work to be considered credible. So what constitutes a credible essay? The purpose of the essay is to forward knowledge, to tackle an already existing argument and build on it using sound evidence and research. “Essays are a document of your learning; they show proof of your understanding of the topic and your ability to communicate that understanding convincingly” (Germov 2011, 2). An essay must put forth an argument then break it down to prove or disprove the thesis. The statement needs to be dissected and the main points need to be analysed. What...
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... | | |College of Humanities | | |PHL/458 Version 2 | | |Creative Minds and Critical Thinking | Copyright © 2009, 2005 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description In this course, students will analyze the thinking process from a critical and creative perspective. The lives of prominent creative thinkers will be examined to identify the social, historical, psychological, and cultural elements that influenced their development. The salient aspects of creativity will be assessed along with the relationship between creativity and critical thinking. Students will apply critical thinking skills to contemporary creative and scientific thought. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read...
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...Critical Thinking in Decision Making Debra Rodriguez MGT 350 August 6, 2012 Karen Allen Critical thinking is a mode of thinking where one improves his or her quality by applying intellectual skills to elements of decisions to make solid decisions to develop intellectual traits. It is important to enhance ones critical thinking skills to improve decision-making capabilties in life and create new opportunities. Critical thinking is the ability of evaluating and assessing thoughts with the aim of making them better by reasoning to discern their validity and truth. This is achieved by the use of critical thinking skills that include analyzing, reasoning, evaluating decision-making and problem-solving (Wood, 2002). Concerning how humans think, two main activities are involved and include: gathering information from the environment around us and drawing conclusions from the data collected. It is during drawing of conclusions that critical thinkers are separated from noncritical thinkers, as noncritical thinkers collect information from their surrounding and draw conclusions without logical evaluations of the same. On the other hand, critical thinkers collect information, evaluate it, draw conclusions using logic and evaluate the logical conclusion. Elements of reasoning seek to break down the problem at hand into articulate components used to find accurate solutions, which include assessment of clarity, accuracy, relevance, logicalness, breadth, precision, significance, fairness...
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...Critical Thinking in the Workplace Critical Thinking in the Workplace There is an art and craft to critical thinking and understanding the process can be very overwhelming. According to Paul & Edler, “Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving” (p. 4). Retaining employees who use critical thinking skills in the workplace is vital for an organization to be successful. Critical thinking helps to improve the decision making process that occurs in the workplace. When staff use critical thinking skills they are better equipped to rationalize the situation presented and deal with it accordingly. When a person can identify, analyze, and evaluate a problem before creating a solution they are thinking critically. This paper will explore critical thinking in the workplace and how thinking challenges can obscure the process of critical thinking. Most people process their thinking based on how and where they were raised, their religious beliefs, values, and ethics. Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating ones thoughts while eliminating all the biases one may have acquired overtime. When critical thinking skills are practiced in the workplace mistakes are normally at a minimal. Critical thinking allows employees to make decisions in a clear and concise manner. In the workplace today, most organizations are successful as a result of employing personnel who possess critical thinking skills or by training staff on...
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...University of Phoenix Critical Thinking: Strategies in Decision Making MGT/350 Critical Thinking Critical thinking is a way to process information that can be developed by people to gain a better sense of their own position in relation to their environment and the actions of those around them. It can be used to either clarify or cloud the information being processed depending on the level of development of the critical thinking skills. It can be said that everyone uses critical thinking but the degree which it is used will vary depending on the individual. A comparison between weak sense thinkers who do not have well developed critical thinking skills and fair minded thinkers that do illustrates this point. A weak sense thinker will ignore, rationalize, manipulate and sometimes lie to establish that their view is the correct one. This is because the individual does not utilize all of the tools to develop a more refined ability to process information and as a result they will not consider all of the viewpoints, questions and subsequent challenges that will arise. This is exemplified by radio talk show hosts who use rhetoric and in some cases insults and sheer volume to disparage and diminish their opponent’s views or politicians who will resort to cheating to win at any cost. These types of thinkers are also referred to as sophists. “Sophistry is the art of winning arguments regardless of whether there are problems in the thinking being used, regardless of whether relevant...
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...Critical Thinkers and Education A Teachers Goal Bia Mcgrue Scypion EDU372: Educational Psychology Prof. Jimletta Vareene-Thomas 2/20/2016 Critical Thinkers and Education A Teachers Goal Throughout life we are challenged and we encounter an abundance of issues or problems that we need to solve. Some problems that can be resolved effortlessly and efficiently but other obstacles may require a more critical and creative thinking to overcome. When it comes down to thinking to solve problems we depend on our thinking or give some regurgitated answer that we just read. But “much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed, or downright prejudiced” (TCTC, 2016). The purpose of critical thinking is so that we are able to not only accomplish or attain understanding but also so we can assess or check each other’s frame of reference and eventually clarify the question or dilemma at hand. Some would argue whose challenge is it to get students to move pass their beliefs and assumption. Is it on students to dig deeper to gain or find additional tools and information that leads to developing a more in depth thought process. Richard Dawkins expressed that we should “not indoctrinate your children. Teach them how to think for themselves, how to evaluate evidence, and how to disagree with you” (Dawkins, 2015). Picture a student who completes every assignment follows along attentively writes down the notes and answers the questions with the information found...
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...Applying Critical Thinking Critical thinking is an important way of thinking in a business setting. This type of thinking involves decision-making and thinking of all elements of a specific decision. When all of the elements of the decision are explored, and different alternatives are presented, the individual or group involved in the decision the best possible alternative is chosen (Natale & Ricci, 2006). The health insurance field uses critical thinking in all aspects of business decisions. Critical thinking includes understanding the concept of using critical thought and knowing the direction that thought is going to take the group or individual (Natale & Ricci, 2006). Thinking happens every second of every day, the best type of thinkers are the thinkers who think about what an individual is thinking (Paul & Elder, 2006). These thinkers think about what their thinking and may ponder on what one is thinking and then these thinkers act upon that thought (Paul & Elder, 2006). The best thinkers use critical thought in the workplace and create many solutions to different issues or problems within an organization. In organizations, it is important for an organization to develop employee’s critical thinking skills. Employees who think about what the individual is thinking and come up with the best alternative solutions can hold a competitive advantage over competitors (mindtools.com, 2010). Blue Shield of California (BSC) is a leading health insurance company in the state of California...
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...Critical Thinking Mary Peeraer MGT 350 July 24 2012 Professor Duplessis Critical Thinking According to Paul and Elder (2001) critical thinking is the ‘mode’ of thinking, on any subject, content, or problem where the thinker improves the quality of their thinking by skillfully taking charge of the structure inherent to thinking and imposing ‘standards’ upon them. Critical thinking is the basis of ‘universal intellectual’ that transforms subject matter into divisions; accuracy, clarity, relevance, sound evidence, depth, consistency, fairness, and good reasoning and has three elements; evaluative, analytical, and creative components. A critical thinker routinely examine, assess, and improve themselves a method uses intellectual standards, integrity that will create a well- reasoned answer because of the demanding process. Create the understanding that thinking does not always need to be accepted at face values. Problems occur when someone persist of people whom, without knowing lack intellectuals will often portraits displays of an undisciplined mind. This creates unconscious belief of what is more comfortable to believe, puts us into the ‘best’ light’, or serves selfish needs, thus, inability to function as rational person. According to William G. Summer (1906) depicted strong sense critical thinker cannot be rushed, are slow to believe, hold things as possible, or probable within every degrees, without...
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...Critical Thinking University Of Phoenix Mgt 350 March 25, 2008 Critical Thinking 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. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness. It entails the examination of those structures or elements of thought implicit in all reasoning: purpose, problem, or question-at-issue, assumptions, concepts, empirical grounding; reasoning leading to conclusions, implications and consequences, objections from alternative viewpoints, and frame of reference. Critical thinking in being responsive to variable subject matter, issues, and purposes is incorporated in a family of interwoven modes of thinking, among them: scientific thinking, mathematical thinking, historical thinking, anthropological thinking, economic thinking, moral thinking, and philosophical thinking. I work for a company that manages properties (Timeshare Industry), on the first week of my employment; I was asked to evaluate the goal of improving the property’s competitiveness in the marketplace...
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