Critical Thinking

Definition  Thoughtful, Careful, and Systematic examination of Ideas

Bloom’s Taxonomy  Knowledge  Understanding Low Order Skills High Order Skills  Application  Analysis  Synthesis  Evaluation

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Knowledge  Recite Lists  Complete Objective Tests  Recognize Familiar Terms  Memory determines the pool of facts and ideas (content) from which you can reason and draw conclusions

Understanding Comprehension  State the ideas in your own words  Translate the author’s meaning  Outline key ideas  See if you understand by explaining the idea to a friend (study group) Examples: Rewrites the principles of test writing. Explain in one’s own words the steps for performing a complex task. Translates an equation into a computer spreadsheet.

Application  Explore a case study  Solve a problem  Provide examples to support your idea  Extend course concepts in new directions Examples: Use a manual to calculate an employee’s vacation time. Apply laws of statistics to evaluate the reliability of a written test.

Analysis  Complete an essay question  Sort ideas into proper categories  Identify assumptions and values  “Compare and Contrast” Examples: Troubleshoot a piece of equipment by using logical deduction. Recognize logical fallacies in reasoning. Gathers information from a department and selects the required tasks for training.

Synthesis  Create and defend a position  Make a unique creation  Improve on an existing design  Analyze interconnection between ideas Examples: Write a company operations or process manual. Design a machine to perform a specific task. Integrates training from several sources to solve a problem. Revises a process to improve the outcome.

Evaluation  Criticize a position  Judge quality using criteria  Cite advantages and disadvantages  Key to making decisions Examples: Select the most effective solution. Hire the most qualified candidate. Explain and justify a new budget.

 Practice honesty with themselves, acknowledging what they don’t know, recognizing their limitations, and being watchful of their own errors.  Pretend they know more than they do, ignoring their limitations, and assuming their views are error-free. Critical Thinkers GoodUn

 Regard problems and controversial issues as exciting challenges.  Regard problems and controversial issues as nuisances and ego threats. Critical Thinkers GoodUn

 Strive for understanding, keeping curiosity alive, remaining patient with complexity, and being ready to invest time to overcome confusion.  Show impatience with complexity and thus would rather remain confused than make the effort to understand. Critical Thinkers GoodUn

Good Critical Thinkers  Base judgments on evidence rather than personal preferences, deferring judgment whenever evidence is insufficient and revising judgment when new evidence reveals error.  Base judgments on first impressions and gut reactions, showing no concern about the amount or quality of evidence, and clinging steadfastly to earlier views. Un

 Show interest in other people’s ideas and willingness to read and listen attentively, even when they tend to disagree with the other person.  Preoccupy themselves with their own opinion, so they are unwilling to pay attention to others’ views. At the first sign of disagreement, they tend to think, “How can I refute this?” Critical Thinkers GoodUn

 Recognize that extreme views (whether conservative or liberal) are seldom correct, so they avoid them, practice fair- mindedness and a balanced view.  Ignore the need for balance and give preference to views that support their established views. Critical Thinkers GoodUn

Good  Practice restraint, controlling their feelings rather than being controlled by them, and thinking before acting.  Tend to follow their feelings and act impulsively. Critical Thinkers Un

IDEAL Method for Problem Solving  Identify the problem  Define the problem  Explore alternative approaches  Act on the best strategy  Look back to evaluate the effects