Critical Thinking –an introduction

Gareth Davies

Shaun Wilden

True or False

Cows are grass eating animals.

Hradec Kralove is the capital of the Czech Republic.

Vocabulary is more important than grammar.

The new maturita is a great exam.

Gareth’s grandfather married Gareth’s mother

What is Critical Thinking?

• Let’s start by seeing how you think.

• Do the questionnaire on your own.

• Compare your answer with a partner.

Score over 30 – good critical thinking Score between 18 and 30 – not bad Score under 18 – poor critical thinking skills

What is Critical Thinking?

• The ability to critically analyse information rather than accept information unconditionally.

• The ability to understand the structure of someone’s argument

• The ability to put together a clear rational argument.

Why is it important?

`“Education is what is left after you forget all the things you memorized in school.”

Albert Einstein

Why is it important?

• Teaching children everything we know, their knowledge is limited to ours. If we teach children to think, their knowledge is limitless.

• Elementary and secondary education is mostly memorization.

• It empowers students to be independent, innovative and successful. 

Why does it matter?

It can help students

• construct a line of reasoning and help them guide an audience to a conclusion.

• locate and find evidence for an argument

So it is

• important for taking exams.

Barriers to Critical Thinking.

• Cultural or personal barriers.

• Misunderstanding the word criticism.

• Reluctance to criticise people with more expertise.

• Mistaking information for understanding

• Lack of methods and strategies.

• Lack of practice or encouragement.

Practice activities.

Look at the activities again and decide.

Which help student making connections?

1 2 5

Which help students focus attention?

3 4 6

Making connections

• sorting information

• judging what information is relevant

• make comparisons

• finding similarities and differences

• establish and verbalise criteria to make judgements

• develops pattern finding skills

Focussing attention

• warns of dangers of no attention to detail.

• develops skills in looking for detail

• raise awareness of tricks and illusions

Summary

• Critical thinking can be integrated into everyday classroom activities.

• It helps our students think for themselves and grow as individuals.

• Helps turns information into knowledge

• A skill needed for the new exam and life.