Critical Analysis and Problem Solving Merging Critical Thought and Assessments in Modern Maritime...

Critical Analysis and Problem Solving

Merging Critical Thought and Assessments in Modern Maritime

EducationIMLA 19 Conference 2011

Captain Gregory HanchrowSUNY Maritime College

Merging Critical Thought and Assessments in Modern Maritime Education

The Maritime Industry has always consisted of two contrary yet intertwined evolutionary paths.

On one hand the industry continually strives for , encourages and implements change or “progress”. Whether it is in engineering, technology, or human resources management.

On the other hand our industry thrives on tradition and a satisfaction that operational challenges can be met by applying time honored practices and practical solutions….”common sense”


During periods of change there are invariably challenges of many kinds that in order to overcome, require solutions that have no precedent.

For example, the solutions our industry required during the transition from sail to steam and from break bulk to containerization were provided by the application of trial and error, and “common sense”

Another way to describe the process of arriving at quality solutions to problems is “Critical Thinking”


This paper makes an attempt to identify potential risks, and encourage discussion about how students of the maritime trade learn.

By introducing a student to a rigid and comprehensive curriculum requirement or “check the box” criteria does their ability to practice analytical skills and creative process problem solving diminish?

Additionally, there can be discussion about the composite of declarative knowledge and critical thinking.


Before any application of maritime specific education should be applied, it is worthwhile to review commonly accepted learning assumptions.

The venerable Blooms taxonomy starts the creative learning process with declarative knowledge as a base then steps the student to the conclusion of the process of creating the solution


Critical Thinking skills and the concepts behind them may be an intellectual way to describe how we teach “Common Sense”


Can we create a way that inspires maritime students to think about their continuing development in the industry?

How can the technical learning necessary be learned alongside the practice of analytical skills that promote creative problem solving?

Of course the problems that ultimately exist are at the most inopportune moments!


10 Steps to Developing Critical Thinking

• Question the Evidence • Establish Criteria • Learn about Logic • Learn about Logical Falsity • Identify the Premise • Learn about Cognitive Bias • Identify your Emotions • Identify your Genetic Instincts • Question your indoctrination • Try to Prove yourself Wrong


Question the Evidence• Whenever you are analyzing something try to question the

validity of the evidence. Is the evidence correct? What reasons do we have for trusting the evidence? Claims should be backed up with some evidence that can stand up to skepticism.

Establish Criteria• It is good to establish a set criteria when analyzing subjects.

As an example if we are choosing which car to buy we might set certain criteria on gas mileage, mileage, brand, and price. We would then apply these criteria fairly to each car in our evaluations. The same might go for philosophies or religions. We would need to establish criteria by which to judge them evenly and fairly.


Learn Logic• Understanding logic will help us process information

better and formulate better beliefs, claims, and arguments. Learning about logic goes along way to help us improve our critical thinking, these two concepts are really like one.

Learn about Logical Falsity• Learning about logical falseness will help you identify

others claims that are built in a logically but not totally true manner and structure. Another reason to learn about logical falsity is to prevent your self from making claims and arguments that are structurally wrong.


Identify the Premise• When hearing a claim or analyzing a statement it is important

to identify the premise. When you identify the premise you can decide if it is valid or agreeable. If you do not agree with the premise of a statement or claim you cannot continue further. Instead, you must regress back and try to figure out a valid premise, if one exists.

Learn about Cognitive Bias• A Cognitive Bias is a weird trick where the mind distorts

reality. Having a knowledge of what cognitive biases are will help you identify them when you do them and when others do them.

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Identify your Emotions• Knowing your emotions will help you understand your urges

and decisions better. Being able to recognize and identify your emotions will help you key into actions and behaviors that seem good at the time but are actually not appropriate.

Identify Genetic Instincts• Deep genetic instincts might drive us to behaviors and

actions that are not critically thought out. The loyalty to the tribe, a deep genetic instinct, might make us not able to clearly think objectively.


Question your Indoctrination• We are all indoctrinated into things growing up. Whether

it is patriotism, religion, racial, or political almost all of us have been indoctrinated into a belief. In order to think critically we need to question and test the validity of these indoctrinations.

Try to Prove yourself Wrong• In order to think critically we have to admit we are wrong

a lot. No one has all the answers. If you try to prove your beliefs and ideas wrong and test them you will help yourself admit error more. The more errors we get rid of in our beliefs the more likely we are to hold good logical beliefs.


Although most educators and professional mariners can arrive at their own understanding of what critical thinking is, there is perhaps a lack of understanding on how to teach it.

Its potential lack of predominance in maritime education could potentially create seafarers who are not fully prepared.

On the other hand, increasing awareness about critical thinking in curriculum could help create even better prepared seafarers.


Thank You!

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