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Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical

Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

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Page 1: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

• Critical Thinking is Unnatural

• Defining Critical Thinking

• Educating Critical Thinkers

• Critical Thinking is Unnatural

• Defining Critical Thinking

• Educating Critical Thinkers

Page 2: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Critical Thinking is UnnaturalCritical Thinking is Unnatural

• classical conditioning

• operant conditioning

• classical conditioning

• operant conditioning

Associative Learning Associative Learning

Page 3: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Critical Thinking is UnnaturalCritical Thinking is Unnatural

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Page 4: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Critical Thinking is UnnaturalCritical Thinking is Unnatural

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Page 5: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Critical Thinking is UnnaturalCritical Thinking is Unnatural

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Page 6: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Defining Critical ThinkingDefining Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking refers to the capacity of judging whether:Critical Thinking refers to the capacity of judging whether:  1) there is meaning in a statement1) there is meaning in a statement2) there is ambiguity in a line of reasoning2) there is ambiguity in a line of reasoning3) certain statements contradict each other3) certain statements contradict each other4) a conclusion follows necessarily4) a conclusion follows necessarily5) a statement is specific enough5) a statement is specific enough6) a statement is actually the application of a certain principle6) a statement is actually the application of a certain principle7) an observation statement is reliable7) an observation statement is reliable8) an inductive conclusion is warranted8) an inductive conclusion is warranted9) the problem has been identified9) the problem has been identified10) something is an assumption10) something is an assumption11) a definition is adequate11) a definition is adequate12) a statement made by an alleged authority is acceptable12) a statement made by an alleged authority is acceptable(Ennis, 1962)(Ennis, 1962)

Page 7: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Defining Critical ThinkingDefining Critical Thinking

Critical Thinkers are predisposed to:

1.Care that their beliefs are true.

2. Care to understand and present a position honestly and clearly.

3. Care about every person (an auxiliary item that reminds us “Don’t be a dick,” as Phil Plait might say).

Page 8: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Defining Critical ThinkingDefining Critical Thinking

““Critical thinking is reasonable and reflective Critical thinking is reasonable and reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do”do” (Ennis, 2011). (Ennis, 2011).

““Thinking that is clear, accurate, knowledgeable, Thinking that is clear, accurate, knowledgeable, and fair in deciding what to believe or do” and fair in deciding what to believe or do” (Carroll, 2007).(Carroll, 2007).

Page 9: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Educating Critical ThinkersEducating Critical Thinkers

1980s CSU Chancellor - Executive Order 388:1980s CSU Chancellor - Executive Order 388:

The minimal competence to be expected at the successful conclusion of instruction in critical thinking should be the ability to distinguish fact from judgment, belief from knowledge, and skills in elementary inductive and deductive processes, including an understanding of the formal and informal fallacies of language and thought.

Page 10: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Educating Critical ThinkersEducating Critical Thinkers

NYU sociologist Richard Arum (2011):NYU sociologist Richard Arum (2011):

• 2,322 students from Fall 2005 to Spring 2009.2,322 students from Fall 2005 to Spring 2009.

• 24 U.S. colleges and universities.24 U.S. colleges and universities.

• Examined testing data and student surveys.Examined testing data and student surveys.

Page 11: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Educating Critical ThinkersEducating Critical Thinkers

NYU sociologist Richard Arum (2011):NYU sociologist Richard Arum (2011):

• 45% made no significant improvements in their critical thinking, 45% made no significant improvements in their critical thinking, reasoning, or writing skills in the first 2 years of collegereasoning, or writing skills in the first 2 years of college

• 36% showed no improvement in “higher order” thinking skills after 36% showed no improvement in “higher order” thinking skills after 4 years of college. 4 years of college.

• The only significant progress was found in the social sciences, The only significant progress was found in the social sciences, humanities, natural science, and mathematics.humanities, natural science, and mathematics.

• Students majoring in business, education, social work and Students majoring in business, education, social work and communications showed the least gains.communications showed the least gains.

Page 12: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical Thinking Educating Critical Thinkers Critical Thinking is Unnatural Defining Critical

Educating Critical ThinkersEducating Critical Thinkers

Ohlone College - Sheldon W. Helms (2013):Ohlone College - Sheldon W. Helms (2013):

• 25% of courses mentioned or emphasized critical thinking.25% of courses mentioned or emphasized critical thinking.

• Of those, more than 25% showed no evidence of teaching and/or Of those, more than 25% showed no evidence of teaching and/or measuring critical thinking.measuring critical thinking.

• Only 20% showed clear evidence of teaching and measuring two or Only 20% showed clear evidence of teaching and measuring two or more critical thinking skills.more critical thinking skills.

• The most impressive courses (by far) were found in our Speech and The most impressive courses (by far) were found in our Speech and Communications Dept., and in higher-level English courses.Communications Dept., and in higher-level English courses.

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Suggestions for ImprovementsSuggestions for Improvements

Please visit my website at Please visit my website at www.SheldonHelms.com for a www.SheldonHelms.com for a

summary of this talk, references, and summary of this talk, references, and resources for teachers.resources for teachers.