Questioning is perhaps the best way to develop critical thinking skills. However, disciplined thought is key. One must actually stop themselves from reflexive thinking/actions to force a reflective thinking process where the individual starts questioning.
I find that students developing critical thinking skills have one thing in common. They slow down to take it all in. They don't rush in very fast and tackle the problem. They assess, analyze and proceed slowly and methodically.
ArLene,
This approach is how you make the course come alive and expand their critical thinking skills. The more experience in this area the better because this is what they will be doing out in the field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As an instructor, I work with students to take basic book learning into a practical field of applied science. Trial and error are important to have the basis for critical thinking with the instruments we use. After using the instruments in different ways, the students can figure out the best way for them to use the instruments. A positive attitude from the instructor helps the students to work with more confidence and be comfortable with the results they workout.
Harry,
I think this is a very good approach. So many students today seem to be poor readers or will not read. They will only do a google search and grab a sentence or two which for them is all they need to know about a situation or problem. If they can discover the value of reading and mind expansion then they will be on track to become critical thinkers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Reading may be a way to develop critical thinking skills. After you have read a some, analyze what you have read, ask questions, and come up with responses. It is important to question what you have read. Do not accept the information at face value. Research needs to done to validate what you have read.
Caryn,
Good way to get your students to expand their thinking and start to develop their problem solving skills. They are going to need such skills in the workplace so they need to develop this skill set while students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A method I typically use and set up at the beginning of a course is that students should always question the theories, ideas, and topics discussed in class, while thinking of ways to use what they learn in the classroom in everyday life.
I always give real world examples, and ask the students for their opinions. For example, when teaching psychology we go over various theories on human behavior. One of their assignments is to dissect a theory (list pros and cons) and tell me why it explains human behavior the best, and if there is anything they would add to the theory.
We have a very dynamic classroom. Out students are encouraged to ask questions and look for answers.
Along with this, we expect them to apply what they learn to solve problems.
Jennifer,
This is a very good point about how to help students to become critical thinkers. It is important to help them see that they can expand their abilities in the thought processing area if they are willing to take the risk. They need to be able to analyze information and not just depend on the latest google search.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Interest enhances one's willingness to brainstorm or to research a topic. The question now is, what if a topic is useful and pertinent but not interesting. Here comes the need for fundamental knowledge, upon which new findings are premised, As critical thinking concept continues to evolve, some foundational learnings have been proved wrong. Developing interest in broad areas, being inquisitive, eagerness to seek better solutions to problems could help individuals to develop their critical thinking skills. A major way that has helped me personally is my opportunity of being around intellectuals who would query or constructively critique my ideas or notions.
Since students are no longer taught the skills of critical thinking in K-12 schools, it is important that they are taught and guided through how the process works once they reach the college level. Introducing them to the idea of critical thinking and then working with them through various samples or case studies so that they can hone these skills is vital. As they get better at analyzing information and looking at things from a skeptical viewpoint, then we can lead them into more in-depth issues that require them to increase the critical thinking skills they are learning.
Shantel,
Your last sentence is right on in terms of the steps students need to be competent in if they are going to develop their critical thinking abilities. Many of today's students want to just jump into the answer to a problem without using the thought process to see if the solution is even close to being the right one.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You get a blink of my lights and a toot of my horn for this one, Robert!
Most students want to achieve success. I point out the quality of the outcome in problem solving is the process of critical thinking. There is no shortcut. It takes time and work to evaluate and understand a problem. Begin by an overview of what the main problem is. Consider the various parts of the problem and break the it into it's various component parts. Step by step consider what assumptions are being made? Are the assumptions built on good data? Test various solutions and the results. Gradually workable solutions emerge. Thought, discipline, practice, and experience builds success.
Candace,
Much like learning other things so procedures and processes can be difficult at first but once internalized they become easier to use. You are helping your students to acquire such a model and then make it a part of their problem solving process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think picking a model and using it consistently will help develop critical thinking skills. I ask the students I teach to use the nursing process as their model with their daily decisions to get in the habit of using the steps in the process. They have difficulty with adapting it at first, but the process gets easier over time.
Beverly,
I use case studies in my classes a lot for some of the reasons you list. They are a great way to get students to start developing their critical thinking skills. One of the big outcomes is that the case studies I use are from my actual experiences so I can tell the students in the end how the case situation was handled and with what success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
By developing a "case study" with several pieces of data. Ask students to think about what problem they are trying to solve, then asking the students to determine which data is necessary and which is not necessary to solve the problem.
Once this has been done, they can organize the remaining "necessary" data into groups. This will help them take an overwhelming amount of data and develop the necessary steps to problem solving.
I try to emphasize using all the available resources necessary to fill in the areas that their previous knowledge of the subject matter doesn't contain. Combining these with the skills they have developed in utilizing the testing equipment, they should be able to develop a theory. Further testing should be able to prove or disprove that theory.
