Enhancing Critical Thinking: Unveiling the 8 Essential Components

1. TLI 2013 Welcome 8 Components of Critical Thinking

2. Identify eight components of critical thinking Understand methods to better incorporate critical thinking into classroom activities and assignments Share effective practices and resources for teaching critical thinking skills Have fun Session Objectives

3. The common threads throughout most writers’ beliefs are the importance of a good foundation in formal and informal logic the willingness to ask questions the ability to see the relevant answers, even if they don't coincide with our pre-existing beliefs What is Critical Thinking?

4. Perception Assumption Emotion Language Fallacy Argument Logic Problem solving (The End) The 8 Components of Critical Thinking?

5. Standards of Critical Thinking • Clarity • Accuracy • Precision • Relevance • Depth • Breadth • Logic • Significance • Fairness • Completeness • Validity • Rationality • Sufficiency • Necessity • Feasibility • Consistency • Authenticity • Effectiveness • Efficiency

6. Recognition and interpretation of sensory stimuli based chiefly on memory Source: www.dictionary.com What is perception?

7. Which of these is found on a penny: Does Lincoln face right, forward or left?, Give me liberty or give me death, In God We Trust, One Penny, One Cent, Picture of the White House, E Pluribus Unum, Liberty, The date of the penny, United States of America, Picture of the American Flag How well do you perceive? Observe?

8. Which of these is found on a penny: Lincoln faces right, forward or left?, Give me liberty or give me death, In God We Trust, One Penny, One Cent, Picture of the White House, Lincoln Memorial, E Pluribus Unum, Liberty, The date of the penny, United States of America, Picture of the American Flag

9. Perception – Assignment Examples Identify the problem from the point of view of three different stakeholders Considered the way ____(Japanese, Muslims, South Americans, etc.) view this? Select a solution you would not generally support. Identify three strengths of this solution. (Return)

10. Assumption Defined… A thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof: "they made certain assumptions about the market".

11. Read the next slide You have 3 seconds! Assumptions

12. A bird in the hand is worth two in the the bush Assumptions

13. Write down what it said. Assumptions

14. A bird in the hand is worth two in thethebush Assumptions

15. Assumption So…. Should assumptions be used for critical thinking?

16. Try it out: Split into groups and assess the following assumption: Praising people for work well done increases their motivation. Identify Assumptions

17. If praise is too effusive (gushy) Not recognized by receiver Given to the wrong person Done wrong way for a certain culture Too often, it may become meaningless Too public, for a very shy person Too simple a task Praising people with no “relationship” Conditions when it might be false

18. Assumption – Assignment Examples What additional information would be helpful to know? What assumptions were made in this case? Could you validate the assumptions you made? If yes, how? If no, why not? (Return)

19. Think of two or three of the most significant decisions you have made in your life. (write them down – 1 minute) (more) Emotion

20. 0 0 9 0 0 0 1 3 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 7 0 9 5 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 3 0 4 9 8 7 6 5 4 0 2 3 9 8 7 6 5 4 2 7 1 0 2 1 9 8 6 1 5 0 0 3 2 1 0 4 8 9 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 7 Write down 2-3 important decisions you have made Hours Minutes Seconds

21. Defined…. A natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others. Emotions

22. Look at your list of important decisions. What percent of your decision was emotionally based? Emotions

23. What role should emotion play in critical thinking? Emotion

24. Emotion – Assignment Examples Consider three possible solutions to the problem. How does each solution make you feel? Who might be upset by your proposed solution? What could you do to diminish the emotional effect of your decision? If you ignored reason and made a decision based on emotion, what would you do and why? How could this influence which solution you select? (Return)

25. Carefully considering language: We gain insight into ourselves and others We better understand arguments We uncover hidden assumptions Language

26. How is language used in decision making? To inform To explain To persuade Language

27. Quick individual/group activity Write down the range for the following words... Language - Perception

28. People should choose their words carefully: Pro-Choice vs ? (Pro-No Choice) Pro-life vs ? (Pro-death) Freedom Fighter vs ? Language - Emotive

29. Language – Assignment Examples Write three problem statements using different words (synonyms). Which best describes the problem? Explain. Select one word to best describe the problem. Use three standards of critical thinking to explain why this word is appropriate. Describe the opposite of the problem? How does this help you better understand the problem. What one word describes the best possible outcome? (Return)

30. Defined: An error in reasoning Master list of fallacy Fallacies

32. We should either pay our teachers better salaries or admit that we don't care about our children's education. Fallacy?

33. We should either pay our teachers better salaries or admit that we don't care about our children's education. False Dilemma Fallacy?

34. He went to college and came back a pot-head; college corrupted him. Fallacy?

35. He went to college and came back a pot-head; college corrupted him. Post Hoc Fallacy?

36. Fallacy – Assignment Examples Article review – find one fallacy used in the article. Identify the fallacy, define the fallacy, and explain why it is a fallacy. Case study – identify two fallacious arguments that opponents might use to oppose your solution. How would you defend your decision. Video/Media – watch a political debate and identify fallacies used by the candidates. (Return)

37. Your Effective Practices? What assignments have you used to teach critical thinking in the classroom?

38. Obligatory Questions Slide