A Student Success Seminar

Presented by REACH
2009
(Your success is our goal!)
 Learning Outcomes

By the end of this presentation, the student will:

• Better understand what critical thinking is

• Know why critical thinking is important

• Have some knowledge of the Paul –Elder model of

critical thinking

• Accept the challenge to think critically in

every class
 G
“Disciplined, IN
K
IN
self-directed TH
thinking . . . ”*

The National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, 1987.

 “ (Thinking) . . . which exemplifies the perfections of
thinking. . .”* G
IN
K
IN
TH

The National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, 1987.

In “everyday” language: G
IN
K
IN
• Thinking “outside” the box TH

• Thinking about thinking

• “Unlimited” thinking

• Divergent thinking
 G “The intellectually disciplined
IN process of actively and skillfully
K
IN conceptualizing,
TH applying,
analyzing,
synthesizing,
and evaluating information.”*

* The National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, 1987.

“Critical thinking is the art of analyzing
and evaluating thinking with a view
to improving it.”*

G
IN
K
IN
TH
*The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking:
Concepts And Tools, 5 ed. The Foundation for
Critical Thinking, 2008.
 “Critical thinking is . . .

• Self-disciplined
• Self-monitored
I N G
IN K • Self-corrective thinking.”*
T H

*The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking:

Concepts and Tools, 5th ed. The Foundation
for Critical Thinking, 2008.
It concerns itself with 8 elements of thought

• Point of view
• Purpose
• Questions at issue
• Implications and consequences
• Information G
I N
• Interpretation and Inference K
I N
• Concepts T H
• Assumptions

*The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts

and Tools, 5 ed. The Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2008.
 Point of View

What are the . . .

– Frames of reference
– Perspectives
– Orientations
And how do they influence “point of view”?
 Purpose

What are the

• Goals

• Objectives

And how do they relate to point of view?

What does critical thinking
involve?
• Making logical inferences
(based upon the information presented)

• Drawing logical conclusions

(based upon the information presented)

• Higher levels of thinking,

such as . . .
 • Conceptualizing—
• Conceptualizing
developing a “mind picture”

• Applying• Applying—
info to use
putting conceptual

• Analyzing
• Analyzing— closely
• Synthesizing
examining,
tearing apart or breaking down

• Evaluating
to
really look at

• Synthesizing—pulling
things together in a well- organized
logical way

• Evaluating—making
decisions about; reviewing;
assessing; rtc.
 ACTIVITIES

Why is Critical
TIME PERMITTING, WORK THROUGH ACTIVITIES
IN YOUR BOOKLET.
ThinkingBE SURE TO THINK CRITICALLY!

Important?
 Why Is Critical Thinking
Important
Critical thinking ?
helps us develop:

•Intellectual Humility
 •Intellectual
. . . it underlies
Autonomy the basic elements of
•Intellectual
communicationIntegrity
•Intellectual Courage
•Intellectual
. . . it plays an important part in social
Perseverance
•Confidence in Reason
change.Empathy
•Intellectual ..
•Fairmindedness
 . . . it is a path to freedom from half-
. truths and deceptions
. . traits important to the development of a multi-
cultural world view and the diminishing of
irrational thought!
 Characteristics of “cultivated”
Goal: to become cultivated critical thinkers

critical thinkers
Cultivated critical
thinkers . . .
ByA
: well cultivated critical thinker . . .
--raising vital questions
--formulating
• Raises questions and
vital questions clearly and
Raise vital questions
precisely formulating them
problems, Formulate questions
and problems clearly, precisely
clearly and precisely;
•Gather
information
By:
•Analyze and assess • Gathers--gathering
and assesses relevantthen
information,
it
--assessing
information, usingit abstract
and determining
ideas to
• Evaluate it interpret what it means and what it is
it effectively,
worth
 Draw conclusions
Find solutions
By: Use relevant criteria to test
them
--drawing conclusions from the information
• Comes
presented
to well-reasoned
--finding possible,
conclusions andplausible solutions and
solutions,
testing
testingthem
them with relevant
against criteria
relevant
criteria and standards;
Keep an open mind

By
--maintaining an open mind
 Network w/others;
keep lines of communication open

• Communicates
By networking witheffectively with
others and maintaining
open lines
others of communication
in figuring with them
out solutions
and others.
to complex problems.
To become a cultivated critical thinker:

Dare to think outside

the box!
• Develop a sense of observation and curiosity
• Become interested in finding new solutions
• Share ideas
• Ask pertinent questions
• Assess statements and arguments
• Seek understanding and information
Also . . .

• Examine beliefs, assumptions, and

opinions; wei gh them against
truth

• Listen to others, think about what

they say,
give feedback

• Become an open-minded listener and

reader
Who are the critical thinkers?
Who Thinks Critically
• Parents ?
• Nurses
 Parents coaches
• Athletic
• Doctors
Nurses
• Air traffic controllers
• Military
Doctors commanders
• Lawyers, Judges
 Athletic coaches
• Supervisors
• Accountants
Teachers/Professors
• Day Care Providers
Who SHOULD think critically?
Link to the test