critical thinking

Definition: Critical thinking can be described as follows:
- "Critical thinking is thinking about your thinking while you are thinking it in order to make your thinking better."

Key Attributes:
- Reflective: Involves reflection on one’s own thought processes.
- Involves Standards: Adheres to critical standards of reasoning and evaluation.
- Authentic: Engages deeply with genuine inquiry.
- Skillful: Applies learned skills and strategies effectively.
- Conducive to Good Judgment: Aids in making sound decisions.
- Self-Correcting: Capable of identifying and rectifying errors in thinking.
- Sensitive to Context: Takes into account the contextual factors influencing reasoning.
- Reasonable: Grounds conclusions in reason and evidence.
- Focused on Deciding What to Think or Do: Centers on evaluating options and making informed decisions.

Definition: Thorough thinking is fundamental in academic settings, impacting a variety of activities such as:
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
- Listening
- Note-taking
- Test-taking
- Problem-solving
- Other forms of decision-making
Characteristics of Skilled Students:
- They develop strategies for completing academic tasks.
- They distinguish between opinion and fact.
- They pose probing questions and make detailed observations.
- They uncover assumptions and define terms carefully.
- Their assertions are made carefully based on sound logic and solid evidence.
Relationship to Knowledge: Almost all knowledge is derived from thorough thinking processes, indicating that critical thinking and learning are intrinsically linked.
- Reference: (“Becoming a Critical Thinker,” College Success)

Meaning: According to Sensoy & DiAngelo, critical thinking involves:
- Thinking with complexity.
- Determining the social, historical, and political meanings behind what institutions present as “factual” and “neutral.”

Key Components:
- Asking Good Questions: Engage in inquiry to seek deeper understanding.
- Seeking Answers with Reasoning: Utilize effective reasoning to find answers.
- Reflecting on Results/ Internalizing: Reflect on the outcomes and incorporate them.
Questions to Consider:
- Who?
- What?
- When?
- Where?
- Why?
- How?
Important Note:
- This inquiry must be earnest. Critique should not be viewed as negative or merely emotionless; it is an aspect of thorough thinking.

Impacts on Communication:
- Underlies essential communication skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Uncovering Bias:
- Critical thinking helps to reveal biases and prejudices in information.
Revealing Long-Term Consequences:
- Aids in understanding the implications of actions and decisions.

Definition:
- Cognitive dissonance refers to:
- "The tension that we feel when we encounter a fact that contradicts our deeply held beliefs."
- In order to reduce discomfort, individuals may deny the fact or explain it away using deceptive thinking.

Major Barriers:
- Forming a view of the world that heavily relies on media representations.
- Binary thinking (black and white, or all-or-nothing perspectives).
- Fear and its impact on decision-making.
- Some educational practices that may hinder critical thinking.
- Egocentrism, or a self-centered perspective that limits broader understanding.
- Developmental patterns of learning that may indicate immaturity.
- Existing beliefs that may be difficult to challenge.
- Previous personal experiences that color perception and interpretation.

Key Attitudes:
- Truth-seeking: An earnest desire to discover the truth.
- Open-mindedness: Willingness to consider alternative viewpoints.
- Analytical: Impartial evaluation of evidence and arguments.
- Systematic: Following a methodical approach to problem-solving.
- Self-confidence: Confidence in one’s own reasoning skills.
- Inquisitive: A curious approach to exploration and understanding.
- Mature: Demonstrating a balanced and rational approach to reasoning.
- Curious: Eager to learn and explore new ideas.
- Skeptical: Maintaining a critical perspective on information and claims.