Critical Thinking Module

Activity: Rock or feather? Notes for Trainers: Explain to them that it is the introduction to critical thinking (and this is an icebreaker activity) and it is aimed to challenge them to think critically while asking them to make choices and explaining why they made the choice.

Critical thinking in words… "The important thing is not to stop questioning." - Albert Einstein "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." – Aristotle “If there was one life skill everyone on the planet needed, it was the ability to think with critical objectivity.” - Josh Lanyon

Defining Critical Thinking deciding rationally what to or what not to believe (Norris 1985); the ability of thinkers to take charge of their own thinking (Elder&Paul 1994); an active, intellectual process where the individual will observe, analyse and reflect on new knowledge and integrate it into their current understanding. Notes for Trainers: Critical thinking is a multi-step process. There have been many definitions of critical thinking over the years. thinking is deciding rationally what to or what not to believe.   All in all, critical thinking is an intellectual process by verbalizing or a thought process allowing to think through problems. Critical thinking can be applied in a variety of learning platforms such as reading, written work and discussions.

Critical Thinking – Why does it matter? Critical Thinking enhances language and presentation skills. Critical Thinking promotes creativity.  Critical Thinking is crucial for self-reflection.  Good Critical Thinking is the foundation of science and a liberal democratic society.  Notes for Trainers: Increasingly more and more employers are looking not for employees with highly specialized academic skills, but those with good thinking skills. Employees who solve problems, make important rational decisions, gather and analyze information meaningfully are required nowadays for most of the vacancies.  

What purpose does it serve? Critical Thinking skill helps to: raise vital questions and problems, formulate them clearly, gather and assess relevant information; examine an issue from all sides; make rational inferences; withhold personal judgment or biases; think open-mindedly; and communicate effectively with others. Notes for Trainers: Critical thinking is a vital skill for anyone to demonstrate as it is required in the workplace. Critical thinkers raise vital questions and problems, formulate them clearly, gather and assess relevant information, use abstract ideas, think open-mindedly, and communicate effectively with others.

Story “I knew you came from Afghanistan” Notes for Trainers Please refer to the manual for the story

Objectives of this module Understand what critical thinking is, and why it is a crucial skill to possess while seeking for an employment. Build and apply critical thinking skills. Promote the ability to critically evaluate information outside of oneself and have an accurate appreciation for specific circumstances or performance. Notes for Trainers: Explain to the group that on completion of this module, they will have acquired a range of skills in critical thinking and basic logic. They will be able to demonstrate the ability to identify and critically analyse arguments presented in everyday and academic contexts.

Sub-skills Planning and decision making Reasoned Thinking Metacognition / reflective thinking skills Consideration and evaluation of different points of view Open-mindedness Purposeful, reflective judgement Self-regulation Reasoned Thinking Problem Solving Fair-minded Evaluation Informed Judgments Justification skills Conceptual development Formulating and investigating opinions Notes for Trainers: Explain to the group that over the course of this lesson you will be taking part in a number of activities to help them to stipulate diverse sub-skills of critical thinking that are all equally important in finding employment.

Activity 1: Know your source! Notes for Trainers: Being able to evaluate the sources of your information is crucial to one’s ability to think critically. However, to evaluate the legitimacy and relevance of a source takes critical thinking skills in itself. This Exercise helps to understand the tools need to properly evaluate a source and from there determine whether a source is valuable to think more critically about an issue and enhance one’s media literacy and awareness.

Activity 2: Praise, Criticism, or Feedback Notes for Trainers: You can ask the participants the following questions for the reflection of the activity: How does it make you feel when others criticize/ praise what you do? How do you respond? Do you respond to feedback differently? Think about the time you criticized/ praised someone. What happened? How did the situation make you feel?

Activity 3: POOCH: Problem, options, outcomes and choices Notes for Trainers: The ‘POOCH’ method is a 5-step process to problem solving. It assists in solving simple problems presented as case studies and offers an effective method to work through more complex decisions. The POOCH model aids to think critically. It is a strategy that allows to clarify issues by using logic in judging information.

Activity 4: Spect-actors for change You apply for a job as a kitchen porter in a restaurant but receive no notification of an interview. When passing the restaurant you call in to enquire if they received your CV. The manager tells you that they did receive your CV but that they are only interviewing males as the job requires heavy lifting and as the rest of the kitchen staff are male a female wouldn’t fit in. By way of consolation, the manager says they will keep your CV on file in case they need a waitress in the future.

Activity 5: Petal Debate Notes for Trainers: Explain to the participants that this activity will help to: build a compelling argument, resuming a multiplicity of points of views, ideas, reactions about the topic to express one speech. develop their opinion with the diversity of others point of view. stimulate the individual and collective thinking.

Thank you for your participation.