1. The Power of Critical Thinking
Chapter 1
The Power of Critical Thinking

2. Risk and Uncertainty Abound
We need to think ahead, to plan, and to problem solve
This means we need critical thinking
All of us encounter opportunities in our daily lives to:
Engage problems and decisions using strong critical thinking
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3. Risk and Uncertainty Abound
Positive Examples of Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking and a Free Society
If information is power, then controlling the flow of information is wielding power
In a free society:
Education is about learning to think
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4. Risk and Uncertainty Abound
The powers of the state are used to protect the right to free and open inquiry
People have the courage and the brains to ask hard questions
And there is unfettered access to accurate information
“Perception management” is far more difficult
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5. Risk and Uncertainty Abound
Higher education in America is internationally admired and yet feared
Strong critical thinking demands a healthy skepticism of government power
The One and the Many
Why do we need to think critically?
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6. What Do We Mean By “Critical Thinking”?
Expert Consensus Conceptualization
The “Delphi” method
Strong critical thinking is essential to consistently successful decision making
Failure of critical thinking often contributes to some of the saddest & unfortunate accidents
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7. What Do We Mean By “Critical Thinking”?
Critical thinking is a “pervasive human phenomenon”
“Critical Thinking” Does Not Mean “Negative Thinking”
Critical thinking is not about bashing what people believe just to show how clever we are
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8. What Do We Mean By “Critical Thinking”?
Critical thinking is intended to be used to seek truth with intellectual energy and with integrity
Critical thinking is skeptical without being cynical
How to Get the Most Out of This Book
Growth in critical thinking is about becoming more skillful and mentally disciplined
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9. What Do We Mean By “Critical Thinking”?
The purpose of critical thinking is to make reflective judgments about what to believe/do
We will work on both the skill part and the dispositional part
To use them as tools to come to good judgments about what to do or what to believe
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10. Critical Thinking Willing and Able
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11. Evaluating Critical Thinking
The Students’ Assignment—Kennedy Act
The Students’ Statements—Kennedy Act
How would you evaluate those statements in terms of the critical thinking each displays?
The Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric
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12. Evaluating Critical Thinking
When we are reflective and fair-minded about decisions we are using critical thinking skills
This simple tool/approach is sufficient to get us started evaluating critical thinking
Our evaluative judgments will improve & our ability to explain our judgments will improve
The Students’ Assignment—Haiti
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13. Evaluating Critical Thinking
The Students’ Statements—Haiti
Apply the HCTSR & determine the level the rubric offers the best description of the reasoning evident
The HCTSR is a great tool to use to:
Evaluate the quality of the critical thinking evident in lots of different situations
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