What role does reasoning play in the critical thinking problem solving process. What each instructor should do is to focus on having the students to use critical thinking in the class room and clinical sites. They need to know they think for a purpose and that purpose is to solve a problem. In nursing critical thinking in many cases save lives and harmful mistakes. The Critical Thinking in Nursing text should be included in all curriculums in teaching, not only in nursing but each course. I do feel that it is most important in nursing.
Bernabe,
Yes, it is one of the foundational components of the critical thinking process. Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I do believe Reasoning is very important as far as critical thinking is concerned because it enables us to gauge and justify the solutions we've come up and re-evaluate it and find the best possible answer to a problem. Without the use of reasoning, critical thinking would fail.
Maria,
Yes, good point. Reasoning with verifiable data/information is a solid foundation for the problem solving process. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Reasoning plays one of the most important parts when it comes to the critical thinking problem solving process. It ensures justification to any idea that comes up to the critical thinker.
Heather,
Yes, a person's integrity of reasoning is a powerful resource. Even when all of the facts are present, the puzzle still be very challenging.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Reasoning plays a huge role in critical thinking. In order to draw appropiate conclusions & problem solve, we need reasoning to help us gather facts and assess them as either concrete & correct or to dismiss them as "fiction". Without reasoning, we'd be essentially running around making very poor choices in life.
Chris,
It does seem that the bureaucratic levels required for establishing consistent standards, as you point out, do impose a difficult challenge for classroom, exploratory learning. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Marivic,
Your comments, sadly, resonate with many teachers. As difficult as it is, most teachers I know work hard to both "get in the way" and encourage toward success at the same time. Thank you for sharing your insights. Good post.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
It seems to me that for those with little "common sense", the ability to reason would be a much more difficult experience. Like anything else, there's got to be a foundation laid, basic fundamental knowlege....a starting point.
I FULLY agree that too much of today's education is so standardized, and teachers can be penalized if students don't do well on end of year tests, that teachers are afraid to take the extra time that would actually encourage exploration or discussion.
Reasoning is the most basic tool in the problem solving process. Unfortunately, like this module indicates, our society has been conditioned to become heavily dependent on technology and instant gratification that many people have let this skill fall by the wayside.
I agree that we have, for the most part, become a mindless society. We enter our questions into the computer, and like magic, the answer appears. Many don't even take the time to evaluate the source of information.
For the above reasons, teaching critical thinking and problem solving tends to "get in the way" of students who are just trying to get by and pass the class. Critical thinking and problem solving cannot occur without the most basic skill of reasoning.
Esther,
Very good point. Common sense is a strong ally in many situations. It makes a good foundation on which to build much of the required reasoning to which this refers. Do you think there may be times when there is a right and/or wrong answer and reasoning beyond common sense is required for some problem solving situations? Thank you for you participation and contributions.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Dani,
You are exactly right. You must use common sense to base your answers on because there really isn't a right or wrong answer. If you use common sense, you will have the answer that is most correct for you.
Linda,
Good point. The pros and cons list is a very effective tool when reasoning toward a decision. Thank you.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Through the process of reasoning it allows us to rationally weigh out all of our options pertaining to a particular situation. Making a list of the pros and cons of a particular situation is a good way for us to rationally reach a satisfying decision.
Zafar,
Yes, reasoning is a skill to refine throught life. Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
It plays very important role in to things makes sense, verify facts and justify facts and beliefs. It is in human nature to reason to find out solutions.
Mazen,
These are all excellent points. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Reasoning is a most valuable skill; but one that is lacking in many of today's career college students. It seems many have up untilnow been fed a diet of multiple choice and true-false quizzes or activities.
When students have to finally deal with the very gray areas of business ethics, for example, it seems they now have to develop and use heretofore little used skills. So reasoning with the instructor's/facilitator's assistance helps students to get to all sides of an issue; not just the textbook or answer key solution!
Finally employers can hire lots of warm bodies; but they will retain and promote those that have the best soft skills, including reasoning and judgment.
Ann,
Clearing the mind of "clutter" is an important step to implement effective reasoning. Sounds like you're ready to go for 2012.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
