PD 102: CHAPTERS 9 & 10Chapter 9: Think

THE GOAL OF THIS CHAPTER

Understand why and how we formulate thoughts and ideas

WHAT IS CRITICAL THINKING?

Searching, plotting, making associations, explaining, analyzing, probing for multiple angles, justifying, scrutinizing, making decisions, solving problems, and investigating

It is literally thinking about something from many angles

Example: the nurse who sensed something was wrong and noticed the error in the medication chart, the marketing expert who developed the winning campaign for Mountain Dew

THE IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING

As a student, critical thinking can help you focus on issues; gather relevant, accurante information; remember facts; organize thoughts logically; analyze questions and problems; and manage your priorities

Can assist in your problem solving skills and help you control your emotions so that you can make rational judgments

Can help you produce new knowledge through research and analysis and help you determine the accuracy of printed and spoken words

HOW CRITICAL THINKING CAN HELP YOU

Whom to date Whom to trust In whom you can

confide How seriously

involved you should get

How to develop a realistic budget

If you should charge or lay away

How much to save to pay tuition and fees

How to search for scholarships

Relationships Finances

A PLAN FOR CRITICAL THINKING

Critical thinking involves:

Restraining emotions

Looking at things differently

Analyzing information

Asking questions Solving problems

Distinguishing fact from opinion

Seeking truth in argument and perusasion

HOW TO BUILD A CRITICAL THINKING PLAN FOR YOUR ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL SUCCESS

Step 1: Restrain emotions Listen to all sides of the argument before you

make a decision or form an opinion Make a conscious effort to identify which

emotions are causing you to lose objectivity Don’t let your emotions make you withdraw or

turn you away from the situation Don’t let yourself become engaged in “I’m right,

you’re wrong” situations Work to understand why others feel their side is

valid Control your negative self talk Determine whether your emotions are irrational

STEP TWO: LOOKING AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY

Look at issues from different angles Get below the surface Penny Exercise, page 223

STEP 3: ANALYZING INFORMATION

To analyze, you break a topic, statement, or problem into parts to understand it more clearly

An easy way to analyze is to create a chart of the information using right and left hand columns

Use a question to analyze a situation Let’s analyze the following: How can an

undeclared student take steps to decide on a career?

This method can also be used to formulate new information on a subject

STEP 4: ASKING QUESTIONS

Questioning is a technique used for exploring, developing, and acquiring new knowledge

Asking questions can be fun Questioning involves going beyond the

obvious If you were assigned to write a paper or give

a speech on the topic of childhood obesity, what five questions would you definitely want that paper or sppech to answer when you were finished?

STEP 5: SOLVING PROBLEMS

There are many ways to address and solve problems

Every problem does have a solution, but the solution may not be what we wanted

Identify and narrow the problem by putting your problem in writing

Jot down all aspects of the problem, such as why it’s a problem, whom it affects, and what type of problem it is

Research and develop alternatives (brainstorm)

BRAINSTORMING EXAMPLE Write down 2-3 career

options available to you upon graduation using the brainstorming method below:

1) Identify the topic, problem, or statement to be discussed

2) Set a time limit for the entire brainstorming session

3) Write all ideas on a board or flip chart

4) Let everyone speak 5) Don’t criticize people for

their remarks 6) Concentrate on the issue;

let all of your ideas flow

7) Suspend judgment until al ideas are produced or the time is up

8) If you’re using the session to generate questions rather than solutions, each participant should pose questions rather than make statements

Don’t worry about content, clarity or quality

Just let your ideas flow Verbalize these ideas when the

class brainstorms this problem Evaluate the alternatives by

Creating 2 columns (A-Ideas, B-Comments)

STEP 6: DISTINGUISHING FACT FROM OPINION

One of the most important aspects of critical thinking is the ability to distinguish fact from opinion

A fact is something that can be proven, something that can be objectively verified

An opinion is a statement that is held to be true, but one that has no objective proof

Statements that cannot be proved should always be treated as opinion

STEP SIX; DISTINGUISHING FACT FROM FICTION (CONT’D)

Guidelines: If you are in doubt,

ask questions and listen for solid proof and documentation to support the statement

Listen for what is not said in a statement

Don’t be le astray by those you assume are trustworthy and loyal

Don’t be turned off by those you fear or consider untruthful

Do your own homework on the issue; read, research, and question

If you are unsure about the credibility of the source or information, treat the statement as opinion

STEP SEVEN: SEEKING TRUTH IN ARGUMENTS AND PERSUASION

It’s important to be able to recognize faulty arguments and implausible or deceptive persuasion

When someone threatens to alienate, disapprove, or do something to harm you if you don’t agree with them, they are using an ad baculum argument (fallacious argument)

When someone says that you should believe or do something because “everyone’s doing it”, they are using an ad populum argument

If someone tries to scare you into doing something, they are using a scare tactic

When a politician tries to get you to vote for him or her because he/she’s “just like you and me”, that’s a plain folks argument

CREATIVE THINKING

Creative thinking is much like critical thinking in that you are producing something that is uniquely yours

Creative thinking means that you have examined a situation and developed a new way of explaining information, delivering a product, or using an item

Creative thinking means that you have opened your mind to possibilities

JULIA CAMERON, “THE ARTIST’S WAY”

The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

Julia suggests that there are basic principles of creativity:

1) Creativity is the natural order of life 2) There is an underlying, indwelling creative

force infusing all of life 3) We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in

turn, are meant to create ourselves 4) The refusal to be creative is counter to our

true nature

CREATIVE THINKING INVOLVES:

Compassion Courage Truth Dreams Risk taking Innovation

Competition Individuality Thinking Curiosity Perseverance

APPLY CREATIVE THINKING TO THIS PROBLEM:

Jennifer is a first-year student who does not have enough money to pay her tuition, buy her books, and purchase a few new outfits and shoes to wear to class and her work-study job on campus. What should she do? Should she pay her tuition and purchase her books, or pay her tuition and buy new clothes and shoes to wear to class and work? What creative ideas (solutions) can you give Jennifer?

CHAPTER 10: Prosper

NO ONE CAN TELL YOU WHAT YOUR LIFE’S WORK IS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU FIND IT. THERE IS A PART OF YOU THAT ALREADY KNOWS; AFFIRM THAT PART. - Willis W. Harman

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE?

You don’t have to decide today Take your time; research a variety of careers

that you think might interest you Get a part time job in the field that you think

might interest you as a career; shadow someone

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the year 2010, the U.S. economy should support about 167 million jobs, yet the labor force will only be able to fill about 157 million

You will be graduating at a time when demand should be excellent for college grads

THE COMING JOB BOOM FOR COLLEGE GRADS

The job market is cyclical- up one day and down another

College grads who have the right skills, work attitudes, and habits will be in the driver’s seat

There is a current shortage of college professors, a profession that offers a very rewarding career

THE TEN FASTEST-GROWING JOBS

1) Network systems and data communications analyst

2) Physician’s Assistant

3) Computer software engineer, applications

4) Computer software engineer, systems software

5) Network and computer systems

6) Database administrator

7) Physical therapist 8) Medical scientist 9) Occupational

therapist 10) College

instructor

YOUR CAREER MAY CHANGE FREQUENTLY

Technology is impacting everything we do You need to take charge of your own destiny,

seeking the right career, the professors who can teach you the most, the temporary jobs that can prepare you for the real career path, and the extracurricular activities that will give you leadership experience

Read, read, read! Learn to follow direction and think for yourself Practice thinking creatively to solve new

problems Improve your writing and speaking skills Become an expert with computer applications

CAREER PLANNING

The service industries, along with health, engineering, business management, and social services, will offer the best opportunities in the coming years

Plan for a career- not a series of jobs For nontraditional students, spouses, time,

and finances may dictate a profession You want your career decisions to be well

thought out, well planned, and carefully executed

WHY ARE RELATIONSHIPS IMPORTANT TO MY CAREER?

Community emerges when a group of people do the following:

1) Participate in common practices 2) Depend on one another 3) Make decisions together 4) Identify themselves as part of something larger

than the sum of their individual relationships 5) commit themselves for the long term to their

own, to one another’s, and to the group’s well being

When you enter the world of work, your community will consist of colleagues over whom you have little control

RELATIONSHIPS WITH DIVERSE OTHERS To experience other people and to receive the benefits

of knowing someone, you need to enter all relationships with an open mind

If you have a derogatory mind-set toward a race, an ethnic group, a sexual orientation, or a religion, for example, you have internal barriers that can keep you from getting to know who a person really is

Learning to interact with people from different cultures is a matter of keeping an open mind and looking at each person as an individual, not as a race, a class, or a religion

Culture is learned In college, you are likely to find your values, beliefs, and

actions changing as you meet new people and become involved in new situations and as your horizons broaden

THE TIES THAT BIND

Dress and speech are two visible signs of culture

Other components are not so visible: Symbols (items that stand for something- ex:

American Flag) Language Values (based on family traditions and

religious beliefs) Norms (how we expect people to act based

on those values) Sanctions (ways in which a society enforces

its norms)

CONFLICT IS INEVITABLE

Conflict is pervasive in our culture, and you simply cannot avoid having some confrontations with other people

The world is full of difficult people, but most of them can be dealt with if you keep a lid on your own hostility

The basic idea of resolving conflict is to get a handle on your own emotions

You need to remove threatening behaviors, words, and body language and be prepared to compromise so everyone leaves feeling as if they won something

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Studies indicate that more than 20% of all first year college students don’t know what their majors will be

Look at your personality type, your interests, whether you enjoy physical or mental work, how much money you’d like to earn, where you want to live, whether you plan to travel for work, how you like to dress at work, what motivates you, what you value, what your skills are, whether you like routine, and if you’re a leader

All of these will pinpoint you in the right direction

WRITE A DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DREAM JOB

Using a variety of resources, write a description of your dream job- the job you would have if you could do anything you would like to do

9 STEPS TO CAREER DECISION MAKING Step 1- Dream! If money were not a problem

or concern, what would you do for the rest of your life?

Step 2- Talk to your advisor Academic advisors are there

to help you; ask questions Step 3- Use electives to take

new courses, learn new areas that might enhance career opportunities.

Step 4- Go to the career center.

Step 5- Read, read, read! Nothing will help you more than reading about careers and majors.

Step 6- Shadow Step 7- Join professional

organizations; become involved in campus organizations and clubs that offer educational opportunities, social interaction, and hands on experience in your chosen field

Step 8- Get a part-time job; work in an area that you may be interested in pursuing as a career.

Step 9- Try to get a summer practicum or internship.

NETWORKING

Networking is one of the most important aspects of career development

MENTORS

A mentor is someone who can help open doors for you, who will take a personal and professional interest in your development and success

Often a mentor will help you do something that you might have trouble doing on your own

Mentors teach, advise and coach Mentors serve as a sounding board for ideas Mentors serve as constructive critics Mentors can promote you among their peers

and contacts Mentors provide information to help with career

development

HOW TO FIND A MENTOR

Arrive at class early and work hard Develop an outstanding work ethic Seek advice from many professors and staff

members Ask intelligent, thoughtful questions Offer to help with projects Convey the impression that you are committed,

competent, and hardworking Look for opportunities to shadow If a professor or staff member gives you an

opportunity, take it Look at grunt work as an opportunity for bigger

things to come

CAREER, CULTURE, AND CHARACTER

Change does not come without sacrifice, hard work, and much determination

One of the most important decisions that you will make, consciously or unconsciously, is deciding what type of person you want to be, what you plan to do in your life, and what contributions you plan to leave tot his world when your time here is finished

There are so may variables in our daily lives that are out of our control

CAREER, CULTURE, AND CHARACTER (CONT’D)

As a mature, rational, caring human being, you should realize that you are a part of a bigger picture

The world does not belong to us; we are only borrowing it for a while

Everything you do affects someone else in some way

You must realize that unless you are out there, daily, creating a better future for yourself, you have no right to complain about the one that is handed to you