Critical ThinkingA 21ST CENTURY SKILL

ANDREA PERROW

BRITTANY SELLERS

BRITTANY TAFT

BRAINS ARE BIOLOGICAL. MINDS ARE CREATED.

Today, almost anyone can open up a web

browser and tap into a seemingly infinite stream

of information—the only limiting factor being

one’s own curiosity and imagination

What Is Critical Thinking?

Use Systems Thinking

Analyze how parts of a

whole interact with each

other to produce overall

outcomes in complex

systems

Reason Effectively

Use various types of reasoning

(inductive, deductive, etc.) as

appropriate to the situation

What Is Critical Thinking?

Make Judgments and

Decisions

Effectively analyze and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims

and beliefs

Analyze and evaluate major alternative points of view

Synthesize and make connections between

information and arguments

Interpret information and draw conclusions based on the best

analysis

Reflect critically on learning experiences and processes

Solve Problems

Solve different kinds of non-familiar

problems in both conventional

and innovative ways

Identify and ask significant

questions that clarify various points

of view and lead to better

solutions

The Importance of Critical Thinking

A well-cultivated critical thinker:

raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely;

gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it

effectively;

comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant

criteria and standards;

thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and

assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences;

and

communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems.

How To Apply Critical Thinking to

21st Century Education:

Education should seek to prepare learners for self-direction and not

pre-conceived roles. It is, therefore, essential that learners be prepared for thinking their way through the maze of challenges that

life will present independently.

Implementing Technology

WebQuest: A WebQuest is an assignment which asks students to use

the World Wide Web to learn about a specific topic. This would be

considered Critical Thinking because in order to search for the answers to

questions, the student must not only read the literal text, but in between the

lines, to infer and to question.

Blogging: A blog is a Web page that is frequently updated, usually

with personal insights and Web links. When a student blogs, they are able to

express their opinions on something, and write about a topic they are

passionate about. This involves Critical Thinking because in order to have a

well-rounded opinion, one needs to look at the subject from all sides.

Implementing Technology

Visuals and Materials (Posters): A visual image can portray

more than one meaning. The literal meaning (what is directly seen) and a

symbolic one (“in between the lines” or an inferred meaning). This is where

Critical Thinking comes into play. To look at an image and to interpret, you

are using higher level thinking. Students can look at images and interpret

them in many ways, and this is using Critical Thinking.

Digital Imaging: Critical Thinking is applied when altering photos

because you need to use different and appropriate tools to alter

the photo.

Implementing Technology

Secondlife: Secondlife is a three-dimensional virtual community

created entirely by its membership. Members assume an identity

and take up residence in Second Life, creating a customized avatar

or personage to represent themselves. You can apply Critical

Thinking here by using higher level thinking to create a world and

the many parts. You can also interact, and apply it to education.

Example

Lumosity.com is a way to enhance brain activity by just playing games

You choose the skills you wish to enhance, and the games are tailored to those skills

It tracks your performance

This can be used as a tactic to get the students to finish assignments, classroom management, or just an everyday activity

In order to win the games, you need to utilize the traits of Critical Thinking

1. Making Judgments and Decisions

2. Use Systems Thinking

3. Reasoning Effectively

4. Solving Problems

With Lumosity, you are working on the skills of:

Speed, Memory, Attention, Flexibility, and Problem Solving

www.lumosity.com

Conclusion

Without thinking critically, you're only looking at the surface of things

Critical thinking is the process of examining, analyzing, questioning,

and challenging situations, issues, and information of all kinds

Critical thinking is an important tool in solving community problems

and in developing interventions or initiatives in health, human

services, and community development

Works Cited

http://www.p21.org/component/content/article/260-critical-thinking-and-problem-solving

http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic69.htm

http://www.accessexcellence.org/LC/TL/buchanan/

http://www.wannalearn.com/Academic_Subjects/Critical_Thinking/

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Strategies.html

http://www.solution-tree.com/products.html

http://www.doane.edu/facstaff/resources/cetl-home/31812

http://www.lumosity.com