Critical thinking is an important mental process that involves skills like conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach conclusions. It helps with reasoning effectively, using systems thinking, making judgments and decisions, and solving problems. In 21st century education, critical thinking can be applied by identifying significant questions that clarify different perspectives and lead to better solutions, as well as making complex choices and decisions. Technology should be used to promote higher-order thinking skills like analysis, synthesis, and evaluation rather than just drilling for memory.

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Critical ThinkingBy: Jordan Aldridge
Sarah Damron
Stephanie Shelhammer
Bob McKenzie
“Critical thinking is a desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to
consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order; and hatred for every kind of imposture.” – Francis Bacon

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Definition:
Critical Thinking –
the mental process of actively and
skillfully conceptualizing, applying,
analyzing, synthesizing, and
evaluating information to reach an
answer or conclusion.

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Importance:
Critical thinking helps you:
•Reason effectively
•Use systems thinking
•Make judgments and decisions
•Solve problems

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Application to 21st
century
education
Critical thinking can be applied to 21st
century education by identifying and asking
significant questions that clarify various
points of view and lead to better solutions.
Making complex choices and decisions is
another way that 21st
century education can
be applied to 21st
century education.
(You’ll see an example of this in a moment)

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Application:
Fallout Shelter Scenario

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Role of technology:
Instead of using technology to
drill for memory, we should
use it to promote higher order
of thinking, such as cognitive
skills of analysis, synthesis,
and evaluation.

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Works cited:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/critical+thinking
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/03/the-importance-of-logic-critical-thinki
http://p21.org/overview/skills-framework/260
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Critical_Thinking/
http://www.bestteachersinstitute.org/id98.html