Critical Thinking




               Worth Weller
A definition…
            • Critical
              thinking is
              about
              discovering
              and applying
              meaning
            • to what you
              see,
            • hear,
            • and read.
How it’s done…
    Critical thinking involves,
      among other things,
     actively looking at an issue,
     examining what you have
      already experienced about
      the issue,
     and comparing and
      contrasting that to what
      other authentic sources
      have researched and said
      about this issue.
Characteristics of critical
           thinkers…
• Critical
  thinkers
  are flexible
  – they can
  tolerate
  ambiguity
  and
  uncertainty
Characteristics of critical
         thinkers…
• Critical
  thinkers
  identify
  inherent
  biases and
  assumptions
Characteristics of critical
          thinkers…
• Critical
  thinkers
  maintain an
  air of
  skepticism
Characteristics of critical
          thinkers…
• Critical thinkers separate facts from opinions
Characteristics of critical
          thinkers…
• Critical
  thinkers
  don’t
  oversimplify
Characteristics of critical
          thinkers…
• Critical
  thinkers
  examine
  available
  evidence
  before
  drawing
  conclusions
Characteristics of Critical
          Thinkers…
• They accept change
• They remain open to the need
  for adjustment and adaptation
  throughout the inquiry cycle
• They are willing to examine
  even their most deeply held
  values and beliefs, and to
  modify these beliefs when
  evidence and experience
  contradict them.
Characteristics of Critical
         Thinkers…
• They empathize.
• They appreciate
  and try to
  understand others'
  thoughts, feelings,
  and behaviors.
Characteristics of Critical
          Thinkers…
• They welcome
  divergent views.
• Critical thinkers value
  examining issues
  from every angle.
• They know that it is
  especially important
  to explore and
  understand positions
  with which they
  disagree.

Critical thinking

  • 1.
    Critical Thinking Worth Weller
  • 2.
    A definition… • Critical thinking is about discovering and applying meaning • to what you see, • hear, • and read.
  • 3.
    How it’s done… Critical thinking involves, among other things,  actively looking at an issue,  examining what you have already experienced about the issue,  and comparing and contrasting that to what other authentic sources have researched and said about this issue.
  • 4.
    Characteristics of critical thinkers… • Critical thinkers are flexible – they can tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty
  • 5.
    Characteristics of critical thinkers… • Critical thinkers identify inherent biases and assumptions
  • 6.
    Characteristics of critical thinkers… • Critical thinkers maintain an air of skepticism
  • 7.
    Characteristics of critical thinkers… • Critical thinkers separate facts from opinions
  • 8.
    Characteristics of critical thinkers… • Critical thinkers don’t oversimplify
  • 9.
    Characteristics of critical thinkers… • Critical thinkers examine available evidence before drawing conclusions
  • 10.
    Characteristics of Critical Thinkers… • They accept change • They remain open to the need for adjustment and adaptation throughout the inquiry cycle • They are willing to examine even their most deeply held values and beliefs, and to modify these beliefs when evidence and experience contradict them.
  • 11.
    Characteristics of Critical Thinkers… • They empathize. • They appreciate and try to understand others' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
  • 12.
    Characteristics of Critical Thinkers… • They welcome divergent views. • Critical thinkers value examining issues from every angle. • They know that it is especially important to explore and understand positions with which they disagree.