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
H
T
*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 putting

Analyzing
conceptual info to use

Synthesizing
Analyzing
examining,
closely

Evaluating tearing apart or

breaking down to
really look at

Synthesizing
pulling things together
in a well- organized
logical way

Evaluatingmaking
 ACTIVITIES

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

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

Intellectual Humility
. . . it underlies
Intellectual the basic elements of
Autonomy
communication
Intellectual Integrity
Intellectual Courage
Intellectual
. . . it playsPerseverance
an important part in social
Confidence in Reason
change. . Empathy
Intellectual .
Fairmindedness
. . . it is a path to freedom from half-
. truths
. . traitsand deceptions
important to the development
of a multi-cultural world view and the
diminishing of irrational thought!
 Characteristics of
: to become cultivated critical thinkers

cultivated critical
Cultivated critical
thinkers thinkers . . .
 A well cultivated critical thinker . . .
--raising vital questions
--formulating questions
Raises vital questions andclearly and Raise vital questions
precisely
problems, formulating them Formulate questions
and problems clearly, precisely
clearly and precisely;
Gather
information
By:
Analyze and Gathers and assesses
--gathering relevant then
information,
assess it
information,
--assessingusingitabstract ideas to
and determinin
Evaluate it what
interpret it means and what it i
it effectively,
worth
 Draw conclusions
Find solutions
Use relevant criteria
to test them
awing conclusions from the information
Comes to well-reasoned
presented
ding possible,
conclusions plausible
and solutions,solutions and
esting them
testing with
them relevant
against criteria
relevant
criteria and standards;
Keep an open mind

By
--maintaining an open mind
 Network w/others;
keep lines of
communication open
networking
By Communicates witheffectively
others andwith
maintaining
others
open lines in
of figuring out solutions
communication with them
and others.
to complex problems.
ecome a cultivated critical thinker:

Dare to think
outside the box!
velop a sense of observation and curiosity
come interested in finding new solutions
are ideas
k pertinent questions
ess statements and arguments
ek 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
o are the Who Thinks
critical thinkers?
arents Critically ?
urses
Parents
thletic coaches
octors
Nurses
ir traffic controllers
Doctorscommanders
ilitary
awyers, Judges
Athletic coaches
upervisors
ccountants
Teachers/Professors
ay Care Providers
ho SHOULD think critically?
end