Critical Thinking at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Lesson 1 by James Powell

1. Critical Thinking
An introduction to Critical Thinking
James Powell
IM / TMA
HvA University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam
j.r.powell@hva.nl

2. To be critical
or to
criticise?
What does it mean to be
critical?
Does it mean:
don’t trust anything?

3. Be critical?
Or criticise?
No, but...
...it does mean:
being sceptical
asking questions
questioning conclusions (including yours!)

4. Why critical thinking at HvA?
Develop clearer thinking
Produce more effective arguments
Increase professional confidence
Challenge the ‘experts’
Produce better written work
...to be better understood!

5. Why aren’t we critical?
Time
Energy
Intellect
“I just don’t know how!!”
Being critical takes TIME,
EFFORT, BRAINS but
mostly ... SKILLS!

6. The course: overview
Information contained in handout
Bring the schedule and book to
every lesson
Compulsory attendance / Max. two
absences. You work in groups and
your team want, and need, you to
be in the sessions!

7. The course: overview
Continuous assessment: 20%
Mid-term presentation / T3: 30%
(Max. Group of 3)
Final presentation or essay
w/ report* / T4: 50% (Max. Group
of 3)
* the report refers to all supporting meeting minutes, articles,
data, information etc., referred to in your presentation or
essay.

8. The Mindful Thinker
The Critical Thinking course at the HvA has it’s
own blog: www.themindfulthinker.com. On
this site you can find
Articles, useful resources, lessons,
homework assignments, additional
activities, and lots of general discussion.
Your opinion is both respected and
appreciated. You are really encouraged to
comment, post articles, raise arguments,
questions, ideas. Contributing will also count
towards your continuous assessment
grade. But, ultimately, it is hoped that you too
will become editors of this resource at some
point, so anything you feel should be there,
just email to course tutor James Powell:
j.r.powell@hva.nl!

9. Questions so far. . .

10. Activity 1: Amsterdam
What do you know
about Amsterdam?
Write down five words
or ideas that sum up
Amsterdam for you.
How do you know
this?

11. Activity 2: The O’Reilly
Factor
Take a look at the
following short section
from The O’Reilly
Factor:
Bill O'Reilly discusses
Amsterdam

12. Activity 3: The 1st response
Now, take a look at the
following response
from an Amsterdam
resident:
The response

13. Activity 4: Bill’s “comeback”
The story doesn’t end
there...
Now, take a look at
how Bill’s programme
responded:
Bill’s response

14. Activity 5: Reflection
How developed our understanding
of an issue is, is deeply dependent
on our understanding of:
Our source(s) of information
Their purpose for writing
The intended audience
The rules and conventions of the
medium

15. Activity 5: Reflection
To maintain a ‘critical’ distance we
need to be aware of how the
‘author’ is using:
language
image / video
‘expertise’ & ‘facts’
information / data
voice / tone
...to convince us of their argument.

16. Homework
For next lesson: Recap:
Choose your groups for the mid- Information on the ideas discussed
term assessment / max 3 people in today’s lesson, see Ch1 of the
Critical Thinking Skills course book
Make sure you have your Critical
Thinking Skills book Don’t forget to take a look at and
join the discussions on The Mindful
Article report (See todays activity Thinker:
handout for instructions!) www.themindfulthinker.com