Critical Thinking Pam Ciganick Pam Ciganick

What must we rethink? “The illiterate of the 21 st Century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” – –Alvin Toffler XT_g XT_g

Henry Smith married 150 women in the course of 10 years. He was never arrested for bigamy although each marriage was witnessed and recorded with the proper authorities. Why? Henry Smith married 150 women in the course of 10 years. He was never arrested for bigamy although each marriage was witnessed and recorded with the proper authorities. Why?

“Traditional thinking is all about “what is.” Future thinking will also need to be about what can be.” “Traditional thinking is all about “what is.” Future thinking will also need to be about what can be.” -Edward de Bono

Critical Thinking Defined “Critical thinking is a technique for evaluating information and ideas, for deciding what to accept and believe.” Dan Kurland “Critical thinking is a technique for evaluating information and ideas, for deciding what to accept and believe.” Dan Kurland

Set of Values *Thinking for yourself, as compared to accepting unquestioningly what others want you to believe. *Thinking for yourself, as compared to accepting unquestioningly what others want you to believe. *Welcoming the opportunity to explore new ideas, points of view and possibilities. *Welcoming the opportunity to explore new ideas, points of view and possibilities. *Using reason to investigate questions, evaluate ideas, advocate positions, and resolve conflicts. *Using reason to investigate questions, evaluate ideas, advocate positions, and resolve conflicts. *Including the voices and perspectives of diverse parties in the discussion of issues. *Including the voices and perspectives of diverse parties in the discussion of issues. *Weighing ideas based on their merits, not who advocates them. *Weighing ideas based on their merits, not who advocates them. *Achieving the best possible resolution of questions, as compared to winning arguments for the sake of winning them. *Achieving the best possible resolution of questions, as compared to winning arguments for the sake of winning them. –East Tennessee State University (

Set of Skills *Inquiry Skills: the ability to frame questions and gather information. *Inquiry Skills: the ability to frame questions and gather information. *Understanding and Evaluation Skills: the ability to understand others’ ideas and evaluate arguments offered in support of them. *Understanding and Evaluation Skills: the ability to understand others’ ideas and evaluate arguments offered in support of them. *Advocacy Skills: the ability to formulate positions and support them in a manner that promotes reasoned discussion. *Advocacy Skills: the ability to formulate positions and support them in a manner that promotes reasoned discussion. –East Tennessee State University (

Critical Thinking vs. Critical Reading Critical reading is a technique for discovering information and ideas within a text. Critical reading is a technique for discovering information and ideas within a text. Critical thinking is a technique for evaluating information and ideas, for deciding what to accept and believe. Critical thinking is a technique for evaluating information and ideas, for deciding what to accept and believe.

Why is teaching critical thinking important? What skills are most important for job success when hiring a High School graduate? Work Ethic 80% Collaboration75% Good Communication 70% Social Responsibility 63% Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 58% Are They Really Ready To Work? 2006

Of the High School students that you recently hired, what were their deficiencies? Written Communication 81% Leadership73% Work Ethic 70% Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 70% Self-Direction58% 21 st Century Skills Are They Really Ready To Work? 2006

What applied skills and basic knowledge are most important for those you will hire with a four-year college diploma? Oral Communication 95.4% Collaboration94.4% Professional/Work Ethic 93.8% Written Communication 93.1% Critical Thinking/Problem Solving 93.1% 21 st Century Skills Are They Really Ready To Work? 2006

What skills and content areas will be growing in importance in the next five years? Critical Thinking 78% Information Technology 77% Health & Wellness 76% Collaboration74% Innovation74% Personal Financial Responsibility 72% 21 st Century Skills Are They Really Ready To Work? 2006

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Characteristics of a Critical Thinker Do you have the COURAGE and PASSION to take initiative and confront problems and meet challenges? Are you AWARE of your own biases and preconceptions? Do you have INDEPENDENT opinions and are not afraid to disagree? Are you HONEST with yourself (or others) when you are wrong?

Are you able to get to the HEART OF AN ISSUE or problem,without being distracted by details? Do you love the TRUTH and are CURIOUS about a wide range of issues? Do you listen OPEN-MINDEDLY to opposing points of view? Do you WELCOME CRITICISM? – –Adapted from (p.21) : hill.com/sites/ / hill.com/sites/ /

Free Thinking Tools Free Thinking Tools

Socratic Questioning

Activity: Universe of Obligation “To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right. “ “To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right. “ –Confucius

What? So What? Now What?  “From every important idea, some action should follow” ~ Paolo Freire What? So What? Now What? Students summarize the most important ideas from the lecture or assigned reading. Then students are asked to determine what is important about the ideas they just listed. Why do they matter? What difference do they make? Finally, students brainstorm actions … what can they do about the problem or issue?

What? Why does the world continue to pledge, “Never Again?” hqJ7bhCBA hqJ7bhCBA hqJ7bhCBA hqJ7bhCBA

So What? The Believing Game “Everyone agrees in theory that we can't judge a new idea or point of view unless we enter into it and try it out, but the practice itself is rare." -Peter Elbow “Everyone agrees in theory that we can't judge a new idea or point of view unless we enter into it and try it out, but the practice itself is rare." -Peter Elbow

The Doubting Game “Knowing and questioning, of course, require one another. We understand nothing except in so far as we understand the questions behind it." -I. A. Richards “Knowing and questioning, of course, require one another. We understand nothing except in so far as we understand the questions behind it." -I. A. Richards

Now What? “What is your universe of obligation?” aching-universe-obligation aching-universe-obligation Visit _action/genocide and create an action plan on how YOU can stop genocide. Visit _action/genocide and create an action plan on how YOU can stop genocide. _action/genocide _action/genocide

Evaluating Internet Sources Let the reader beware! Let the reader beware! Lib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html Lib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html Lib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html Lib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html

Free e-learning tools every-learning.html every-learning.html

Some closing thoughts… “I do not paint the things I see, I paint what I think.” “I do not paint the things I see, I paint what I think.” –Pablo Picasso