One of the goals distinguishing higher education is that students learn and demonstrate ‘critical thinking’ skills. What is critical thinking, and why is it important?
Critical thinking is the process of imparting knowledge-based judgment into an analysis, assessment or proposal. The knowledge can be gained through formal or informal means, ranging from traditional research to on-the-job experience. What matters is the ability to articulate what one knows in a way that demonstrates understanding of concepts, theories or processes.
Critical thinking does not occur in a vacuum. It relies on relationships between ideas and processes, problems and solutions. There are several ‘exercises’ that can be used in the higher educational environment to encourage relational thinking and judgment: if/then hypotheses, what if? fictional situations and ‘in your case’ self-assessments. Each one encourages the individual to engage in mental connections rather than addressing topics or issues in isolation.
Critical-thinking activities are not limited to the physical classroom either. Virtual courses can and do integrate them through collaborative projects, online field experiences and ‘capstone’ presentations that link theory to practice.
The concluding question is ‘why does any of this matter’? Today’s risk-driven social and workplace challenges demand the ability to analyze, judge and take action on complex problems in unstable, changing environments. Critical thinking is the best foundation for doing so.
Fri, Jul 31, 2009
Adult Education, Higher Education, Tips