critical thinking, reading and taking notes

Developing Business Practice –302LON

Critical thinking, reading and taking notes

Unit: 4 Knowledgecast: 1

In this Knowledgecast, we will:

• Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence successful study

• Evaluate current academic skills and present a plan for the development of academic skills

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of independence in learning and the need for a ‘growth’ mindset

Module Learning Outcomes

Module OverviewUnit1 Developing as a learner

2 Working independently and with others

3 Academic writing

4 Critical thinking, reading and taking notes5 Using data in your studies

6 Business and management research

7 Career development strategies

8 Effective self marketing tools

9 Successful work experience

10 Personal Development Planning

4 Steps to Develop Your Reading Skills

1. Be clear about your purpose

2. Choose what to read

3. Choose how to read

4. Read critically

• What are you try to achieve?

• Why do you want read about the subject?

• What type of information are you looking for?

• How will you use this information now or in the future?

Step 1: Be Clear About Your Purpose

• Identify your options

• Identify all your options

• Use a selection criteria

• Make your selection

Step 2: Choose What to Read

• Go back to your purpose• Use the Index and Contents pages• Use Introductions and Summaries• Scan for key words• Identify the main arguments• Take good notes• Apply what you’re learning

Step 3: Choose How to Read

• Engage with the content

• Relate to other sources

• Think about the context and period when the writer was active

• Think about the assumptions

Step 4: Read Critically

Recognising Key Terms

Concept ModelMetapho

rFramewo

rk

Theory

Analysing Arguments

Identify the claim being made

Evaluate the evidence that supports the claim

Evaluate the reasoning used to link the evidence to the claim

• In our next Knowledgecast, we will look at:

• Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence successful study

• Evaluate current academic skills and present a plan for the development of academic skills

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of independence in learning and the need for a ‘growth’ mindset

What are we going to cover next?

In this Knowledgecast, we have looked at:

• Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence successful study

– Reading and Critical Thinking skills for academic and business sources

• Evaluate current academic skills and present a plan for the development of academic skills

– Evaluate and develop your skills by applying a new framework to reading and analysing sources

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of independence in learning and the need for a ‘growth’ mindset

– Take responsibility to apply reading and critical thinking skills in your studies and in the workplace

Knowledgecast Summary

Seminar – Critical Thinking

4 Perspectives for Critical Thinking1. Engaging with the content - What claims is the author making?- What concepts are being

introduced? - What do they mean?- How might they be useful?

2. Relating to other sources- Does this text extend an existing

theory or set of ideas?- Is it consistent with other sources?- In what ways is it different? And

why?

3. Thinking about the context- When and where was the text

written?- What was the purpose of the text?- What types of bias may be

present?

4. Thinking about the assumptions- What assumptions does the author

make?- Are they explicit? Are they implicit?- Do the assumptions make sense?

How?

• An introduction to Mind Maps

• Creating your own mind maps

Seminar: Creative Note Taking

Source: Buzan, T. et al (2007)

Group Activity – Creative Note Taking