Critical Thinking

In today’s society, many people experience information overload. We are bombarded with messages to believe various ideas, purchase things, support causes, and lead our lifestyle in a particular way. How do you know what to believe? How do you separate the truth from the myths?

The answer lies in critical thinking skills. The ability to clearly reason through problems and to present arguments in a logical, compelling way has become a key skill for survival in today’s world. This three-days workshop will give you some practical tools and hands-on experience with critical thinking and problem solving.

• Define critical and non-critical thinking
• Identify your critical thinking style(s), including areas of strength and improvement
• Describe other thinking styles, including left/right brain thinking and whole-brain thinking
• Work through the critical thinking process to build or analyze arguments
• Develop and evaluate explanations
• Improve key critical thinking skills
• Use analytical thought systems and creative thinking techniques
• Prepare and present powerful arguments

We will spend the first part of the day getting to know other participants and discussing what will take place during the workshop. Students will also have an opportunity to identify their personal learning objectives.

The first session of the course will look at what critical thinking is, some characteristics of critical thinkers, and key critical thinking skills. Participants will also explore ways to develop their critical thinking skills.

Next, participants will look at left- and right-brain and whole-brain thinking.

This session will look at some of the barriers to good decision making and explore how to get around them.

Next, participants will delve into the seven phase critical thinking model. They will also learn about the standards of critical thinking that serve as the foundation for this model. Participants will then practice the process through a case study.

This session will give participants some skills necessary for critical thinking: asking questions, probing, and active listening.

Another important part of critical thinking is being able to clearly explain why something is a particular way. This session will help participants build that skill.

Although assumptions can help us get through our everyday lives, they can be a major impediment to critical thinking. In this session, participants will discuss how to reduce the number of assumptions that they rely on.

This session will explore a frequently overlooked thinking tool: common sense.

Next, participants will look at some analytical and inventive thought systems, including De Bono’s thinking hats and brainstorming.

This final session will give participants some tips on preparing and presenting a powerful, logical argument. Participants will also have an opportunity to prepare and present a critical thinking presentation, and to evaluate others’ presentations with the skills that they have learned.

At the end of the course, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and fill out an action plan.