1. What is Critical Thinking, and How to Teach It?
Peter Jeschofnig, Ph.D.
Institute for Excellence in Distance Science Education

2. Notable Quotes
Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably why so few engage in it. (Henry Ford)
At a certain age some people’s minds close up. They live on their intellectual fat (William Lyon Phelps)
He who asks a question may be a fool for five minutes, but he who never asks a question remains a fool forever. (Tom Connelly)

3. What is the Current State of Critical Thinking in Higher Education?
Research indicates that while an overwhelming majority (89%) of university faculty claimed critical thinking to be a primary objective of their instruction:
Only 19% could define critical thinking
77% had little, limited, or no conception of how to reconcile content coverage with the fostering of critical thinking
Only a very small minority could clearly explain the meanings of basic terms in critical thinking
Paul Hurd, 2004

4. Critical Thinking Cartoon
Cartoon by

5. What is critical thinking?
Critical Thinking is the ability to:
Develop a healthy skepticism toward any information presented as fact
Apply reasoning and logic to new or unfamiliar ideas, opinions, and situations.
 See things in an open-minded way and examine an idea or concept from as many angles as possible.
Look past one’s own views of the world and better understand the opinions of others.

6. What Critical Thinking is NOT?
Blindly accepting at face value all statements and arguments made by others
Blindly trusting political commercials
Blindly believing TV commercials
Blindly accepting newspaper stories as fact
Blindly accepting articles in professional journals
Blindly accepting all information in textbooks

7. Benefits of Critical Thinking
In Personal and Public Life:
Avoid falling for scams and making foolish decisions from ignorance
Make better decision from verified information
Free one from unexamined assumptions, dogmas, and prejudices
Be a better informed citizen and voter
In the workplace:
Be a better problem-solver
Better analyze information and draw appropriate conclusions

8. Critical Thinking and The Scientific Method
There are virtually no differences in the process:
Questions something
Propose a possible answer
Conduct testing
Make observations and compile data
Analyze data
Draw an evidence-based conclusion

9. Developing Discussion Questions to Promote Critical Thinking
Higher-Level Thinking Questions Include:
By Walker, S.E. Active Learning Promotes Critical Thinking
Open-ended questions that aim at provoking divergent thinking
Questions that go beyond knowledge-level recall
Questions that promote evaluation and synthesis of facts and concepts
Questions that start or end with words or phrases such as “explain,” “compare,” “why”

10. Teaching Strategies that Promote Critical Thinking
Ask students to state the most important concept(s) of a paper or video. Angelo and Cross,1993
Ask students to state the most confusing point of a paper or video. Angelo and Cross,1993
Ask students to propose a better way to present materials or ideas.
Ask students to reflect upon and discuss a reading, assignment, or video.

11. Becoming a Critical Thinker: IDEALS – 6 Steps to Effective Thinking
Identify the problem: What is the real question we are facing here?
Define the context: What are the facts and circumstances for this problem?
Enumerate choices: What are the most plausible options?
Analyze options: What is our best course of action, all things considered?
List reasons explicitly: Why are we making this particular choice
Self-correct: Let’s look at it again. What did we miss?

12. Teaching Strategies that Promote Critical Thinking
Open ended assignments
Case studies
Reflections
Discussions

13. Science Case Studies
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
Case studies in science education
Cases online
Case Studies in the Life Sciences
Case Studies in Inclusive Teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Science Case Studies

14. Critical Thinkers Distinguish between fact and opinion
Ask questions; make detailed observations; uncover assumptions and define their terms; and
Make assertions based on sound logic and solid evidence.
Ellis, D. Becoming an Master Student, 1997)

15. Questions to ask What do you mean by …?
How did you come to that conclusions?
What is the source of your information?
What assumptions led you to that conclusion?
What are the implications if you are wrong?
Why did you make that inference? Is another one more consistent with the data?
Why is this issue significant?
What is an alternate explanation
for this phenomenon?

16. Barriers to Critical Thinking
Lack of relevant background information Poor reading skills Biases Prejudice Superstition Peer Pressure Resistance to change Rationalization Stereotyping Wishful thinking Unwarranted assumptions

17. Young girl or old woman

18. Man playing horn or woman’s silhouette?

19. Eskimo’s back or native American?