Characteristics of a Critical Thinker | Origin: ED116
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Critical Thinking Processes and Applications --> Characteristics of a Critical Thinker
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Learning about the characteristics of a critical thinker will allow me to better bring out that ability in my students.
I would serve society better if I am a critical thinker.
Questioning as a teaching and learning technique engages students and helps them to critically think.
Questions go from simple or direct to complex (or open and probing) as critical thinking increases
Critical thinking is a process. I will forge better questions.
The concept of discipline - the investment of time, effort, and application stood out to me the most. I think this attribute is what sets successful students apart from unsuccessful students. If we can help develop this skill in our students, I believe they can learn to apply the right amount of effort to achieve any goal. The other thing to consider, is that judgment, another important component of critical thinking, is developed through extensive experience. This is something our students usually don't have at the outset in our particular field of study, and it is through providing opportunities to experience real-life situations through service learning and fieldwork experience, that we can help our students develop this skill, as well.
Questioning as a teaching and learning technique engages students and helps them to explore information
Characteristics of a critical thinker:gain new information and apply it often, skills for good judgment to make appropriate repsonses.
This can be applied in the academia to enrich the learning experinec of students.
Our educational system is not set up to create students who use reason and judgment appropriately. They are fed information and then tested on that information in a standardized format that is easy to grade. It does not gives us real insight into what the student knows. It gives us insight into the fact that the student read and memorized and was successful (or not) with regurgitating the information fed them. To be real world problem solvers, we must approach them differently. We must present them problems as well as the skills needed to solve those problems and the time to work through the issues at hand. We can't expect critical thinking to develop from a lecture and a book.
Critical thinking is very important
I thought the discipline section was interesting, as well as the questioning section. The cyclical nature of critical thinking requires all the elements work in order to reach articulate, viable solutions to problems. Questioning is certainly something that needs to be encouraged more in education. Without it, we can't learn from our mistakes or dissapate confusion and misunderstanding. The discipline section was a breath of fresh air, given how instant-gratification-based our society is. I'm glad to know folks are still trying to incorporate it to develop strong critical thinkers.
When teaching, I need to take time to slow down and ask the students more questions in order to help develope their critical thinking skills.
I will incorporate more questioning into my teaching style.
Self-dicipline is an important component of critical thinking. Critical thinkers develop a pattern of inquiry which can be used in all types of situations.
The thing that stood out to me the most is that discipline can be trained. While many students will find the task a bit burdensome at first, the more they are required to use this in school the easier it will be for them to apply the process in their daily and professional life.
I like to use the Socratic approach, especially in clinicals.
Critical Thinking is a preliminary step to ethical decision making. It's not just thinking something through. Ultilmately a decision has to be made and acted upon. That's the practical impact of critical thinking.
confidence is needed to become a great critial thinker. As your expeirence and confidence grow over time, your critial thinking skills will naturally increase as well.
Reasoning, questioning. discipline, Judgment are all things that help us help our students become better critical thinkers.
It is up to the instructor to guide reasoning, ask in depth questions and the practice thereof, show discipline through our work and by example and move towards objective judgment without using inferences or assumptions to lead us to making good decisions.
