1. Efficient Critical Thinking The student’s guide to success in college and in life

2. Think it over! “Learning without thought is labor lost, thought without learning is perilous.” --Confucius

3. Critical thinking is not a one dimensional activity; it is an active process composed of many cognitive skills.

6. What is Critical Thinking? Critical thinking is the ability to: –Develop unique approaches to learning –Interpret facts –Evaluate information –Apply learning to real life –Solve problems –Create new ideas

7. Attitude is Key Always be looking for new ideas and perspectives Always be looking for the “rest of the story” Always be looking for logical reasoning Always be looking for information that might be of value later

8. Set a learning goal for every class Determine a personal outcome for every class: How can it help me with life after college? How can it help me have a better career? How can it help me be a better Christian? How can it help me be a better citizen? How can it help me be a better friend, husband, wife, parent, employee? How can it contribute to a better ME?

9. Important Processes to Remember As you read, listen or discuss, remember to: Analyze: Is this logical? Apply: How, when, why will I use this information? Reflect: Incubate, think about the concept Connect: Relate learning to prior knowledge, other classes, experience. Make it personal! Important: Just because someone says it or writes it doesn’t make it so!!

10. How to Maximize Every Class Think in new ways Break old habits Be open to different perspectives Develop new approaches Brainstorm (even with yourself) Make decisions Be Creative

11. While reading, ask these basic questions What? Know definitions and appropriate language/terms Why? Analyze by breaking down into component parts How? Author’s intent, law process, etc. Significance? How is this relevant? Compare/Contrast: with other topics and classes Organize: outline, categorize, and classify

12. Evaluate While Learning Be objective Be open-minded Be skeptical Be aware of motives, biases, prejudices Be alert for manipulative language Be logical Be responsive to the evidence Be morally and ethically sensitive

13. Creative Thinking is the key to making the most of each class Reverse the solution Consider opposite goals Explore all possibilities Use offbeat comparisons Put yourself in the problem Start at the beginning, end—or middle! Dream—even fantasize! Try “no-holds barred” brainstorming Make no assumptions!

14. Barriers to Beneficial Thinking Forming view of world based on false images (news, tv, movies) Black or white thinking (all or nothing) Fear: mistakes, looking silly, trying new things, taking chances Passive attitude Tendency to memorize/regurgitate “One right answer” syndrome

15. Thinking is a Life Skill Realize that even experts don’t know everything Realize that many of the so-called facts you are learning now will be obsolete within a few years (Just look at computers!) Realize the world is constantly changing—and we must also; that requires thinking critically and creatively Realize we must commit to being life-long active learners

16. Tutoring for Efficient Thinking Students often believe: There is only one right answer Thinking takes too much time What the professor said will be on test The possibilities are limited (inside the box thinking) Their worldview should match that of others Everything “said or read” is true

17. How to Sell the Concept to Students: Encourage students to realize how critical, constructive thinking contributes to: Having a more complete understanding Developing a better memory Easing application of concepts to real life Evaluating information: keep or toss Becoming a valuable employee/boss Increasing creativity and innovation Achieving success and happiness

18. I wish you powerful thinking skills for a happy, successful college and life experience!

19. Bibliography Cortina, Joe, Janet Elder, Katherine Gonnet. Comprehending College Textbooks. New York. McGraw Hill, l989. Daiek, Deborah, Nancy Anter. Critical Reading for College and Beyond. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2004. Murphy, Diana. Ed. Ten Practices of Highly Successful College Students. New York: Longman, 2000. Paul, Richard. Foundation for Critical Thinking.www.criticalthinking.orgwww.criticalthinking.org McWhorter, Kathleen T. Study and Critical Thinking in College. New York: Pearson Longman, 2006. Schmitt, David E. The Winning Edge: Maximizing Success in College. Boston: Harper Collins Publishers, 1992.