Examples of Critical Thinking

What is Critical Thinking?CRITICAL THINKING is the active and systematic

process of

Communication Problem-solving Evaluation Analysis Synthesis Reflection

both individually and in community to

Foster understanding Support sound decision-making and Guide action

Why is critical thinking important to students?

Critical thinking is critical to employers

Can you analyze situations?

Can you solve problems? Can you communicate your

position logically? Can you make good

decisions (based on data, not feelings)?

Why is critical thinking important to student learning?

College-level learning is deeper than memorizing facts: Science – analyzing results of

experiments in light of existing theories

Math – selecting appropriate problem-solving strategy for word problems

Humanities – putting literature and art into historical context

Health fields – evaluating patients and making decisions in clinical settings

Communications – debate; persuasive writing

Criminal justice/fire science – reacting correctly to simulations

Political science/sociology – analyzing others’ points of view

Why is critical thinking important to society?

Failure in critical thinking are disastrous Space Shuttle Columbia Levee construction in New Orleans

Faulty critical thinking can lead to wrong conclusions Biased polls adversely affect public opinion 80 percent of Americans think the government is

hiding knowledge of the existence of aliens. 3 million Americans believe they've had a possible encounter with aliens

Students’ What’s in it for me?

Critical thinking in the world of work Medical – evaluating patients’

symptoms Technology – problem-solving

software/engineering solutions Counter-terrorism – synthesizing

intelligence to predict future events Criminal justice/fire science –

analyzing the scene – whodunit? Government – solving problems like

hurricane relief Education – reflecting on student

success resulting from your teaching

Business – analyzing information to detect trends; ethical decisions

Journalism – communicating fairly

Students’ What’s in it for me? (continued)

Critical thinking in everyday life: How should I prepare for a

hurricane? Should I evacuate? What is the safest way to

travel? What is the slant of a news

story? What are my real chances of

winning the lottery? Why is my good friend angry at

me? What questions should I ask

myself and my partner before getting married?

Which phone company plan is best for my needs?