I believe critical thinkers are excited to take on a challenge and work through a problem. It takes patience, hard work, and determiniation to think critically. You should not only consider one answer but several methods to get to that same answer to think critically.
The list in your text is fairly complete. However, I would add these open-mindedness and flexibility. If a person is not willing to accept and consider ideas and concepts that are outside of his or her notions to date, they will miss out on the development of potentially valuable thought trails.
Dixie,
Thank you for these good points on how we can help our students to become critical thinkers. I think your list of needed abilities are right on. If we can help our students integrate these steps into their minds they will be able to approach, analyze and solve problems in their future career areas.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I try the same thing with parts of sentences and how they work together to carry the load for communicating. There's the same element of thinking mechanically in analyzing the underlying pattern of an APA-style reference. That skill--learning to recognize the pattern--is a life-long asset.
I like the emphasis on patience in the others' answers!
I think two other characteristics for a good critical thinker are curiosity and a drive to find answers. Next we need both the ability and the willingness (there's that need for patience again) to follow the process: gather information, evaluate its validity, explore applications, and weigh possible outcomes of the options that present themselves.
Steven,
This visualization effort is extremely valuable when it comes to trouble shooting. I know this skill is going to help your students transition successfully into the work place if they are willing to put forth the effort needed to acquire it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like your phrase "think outside the box". I use it many times when teaching my automotive electrical class where critical path analysis is how many issues are solved. I try to get students to visualize how electrical current flows through a circuit and what could slow it down or stop it at the wrong time.
Gary,
Thank you for this analysis about how critical thinkers develop and then expand their abilities. This is how students need to approach the process of becoming problem solvers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Critical thinkers must be self-motivated and confident as well as willing to search for the information needed to make an informed decision and connect the information with the solution. If thinkers don't not have the confidence to trust their own judgement after the research has been completed, they will still be led by others who have mastered not only critical thinking but manipulation of those who are waiting for someone else to make the decision for them.
Benson,
You had a great trainer and I am sure that is why you are successful today in leading your students toward reflective problem solving. This is how growth is achieve--questioning all the possibilities.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My father showed me how to be a critical thinker. He would always be the devil's advocate, nothing was ever to be trusted to be true, it had to proven. The root characteristic of a critical thinker is mistrust. One must use logic, knowledge (a bank of common sense), and facts to uncover the truth.
Jason,
Having the proper attitude is being willing to put forth the time and effort to find possible solutions to problems. I have experienced the same thing with my Gen Ys in that they just want to do a quick google search and call it good. Critical thinking is much more than that as we know so we need to provide them experiences and activities that will enable them to expand their problem solving skills in the area of critical thinking.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Mark,
Yes, it is. You last sentence is the end goal. The challenge is that many individuals can seem to get there. They use the "Ready, fire, aim" format when they make decisions or try to solve problems. By getting them to think and then act better decisions will be made and more problems solved.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Having the proper attitude is a big factor in my opinion. I believe anyone is capable of critical thinking with the right attitude. Gen Y seems to lack the patience and/or attitude for critical thinking.
Critical thinking is paying attention to detail, evaluating information, determining is additional information is needed, reviewing all possible results before making a decision. In short, Think before you act.
Jeffrey,
With this approach you ae moving them from being passive learners to being active learners. As a result they will be able to internalize this information and refine their skill sets. The result will be better prepared students that are ready to enter their career field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I spend a lot of hours explaining to students how components work, which pieces are under load and which direction the load is being applied. I try to get them to spend time looking at things and determine how everything should react. The first day of the class, I inform them that I need to retrain their brains to think mechanically and to learn how to interpret information. I explain to them that the better they understand how something works, the better they will be at diagnosing problems.
Colin,
Good analysis of how individuals can develop their thinking abilities. Your last sentence really lays it out in terms of having information in the mind from which selections can be made in relation to the current situation and how it can be resolved.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Obviously there are numerous skills that a good critical thinker will possess, as this course discusses in detail. Attributes that I find particularly important are being informed, or "learned" as my grandfather always calls it, and being capable of focused, reflective thought. Often (and when able, of course) when working through complex problems I will allow myself the time to think freely and openly about the problem, letting my mind wander through every aspect of the situation and into far-reaching and often unrealistic assessments and possible solutions. If given enough time to work through all possibilities, I think the human mind can and often does reach solutions completely subconsciously by freely drawing upon all learned experiences.
Samantha,
This is a very important point in terms of critical thinking. Students need to develop their ability to analyze situations, resources and strategies. If they are able to do such then they will be able to make choices that will lead to the solution of problems. Like the way you get them to using a wide variety of resources rather than letting them just use one .com search.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
