Critical thinking involves conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information through observation, experience, reasoning, and communication using universal intellectual standards. It is goal-oriented conscious thinking. Critical thinking skills help improve learning outcomes by engaging learners and enhancing general and language learning abilities. Teaching critical thinking develops traits like intellectual humility and perseverance, and strategies like questioning and problem solving. This leads to permanent and transferable learning that supports lifelong learning.

1. Critical
Thinking for
Better Learning
Outcomes
G Suvarna Lakshmi
Assoc. Prof., Dept of ELT
The English and Foreign Languages University
Hyderabar
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2. Overview
Critical thinking- Definition
CT and Educational Outcomes
Traits, Domains and Strategies of CT
How to become Critical Thinkers
CT in Education
Advantages of Teaching/Learning CT
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3. What is Critical Thinking?
A host of thinking skills: conceptualizing, applying, analysing,
synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or
generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or
communication, as a guide to belief and action; based on universal
intellectual values, clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency,
relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and
fairness, purpose, problem, or question-at-issue; assumptions;
concepts; empirical grounding; reasoning leading to conclusions;
implications and consequences; objections from alternative
viewpoints; frame of reference and a host of others
Any conscious, goal oriented thinking is critical thinking
Critical thinking...the awakening of the intellect to the study of
itself. 3

4. Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes describe the
measurable skills, abilities, knowledge or
values that students should be able to
demonstrate as a result of a completing
a course.
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5. Schemata
Culture Language
Critical Thinking
Strategy
Training Task Based
Approach
Creative
Thinking
Logical
Reasoning
Problem
Solving
Social Implications
Education
EDUCATION AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
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7. Traits, Domains & Strategies of CT
TRAITS: Intellectual Humility, Courage, Autonomy, Integrity,
Perseverance, Confidence in reason and Fair-mindedness
DOMAINS: Bloom’s Taxonomy
Cognitive: mental skills : remembering, understanding, applying,
analyzing, evaluating, creating);
Affective: growth in feelings or emotional areas (Receiving &
responding to Phenomena, valuing, organizing & internalizing);
Psychomotor: manual or physical skills (perception, readiness to
respond, guided response, mechanism- basic and expert, origination
and adaptation, imitation etc)
STRATEGIES: CT strategy list
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8. CT for Better Learning Outcomes
Objectives focused on domains
Levels based on Blooms Taxonomy
Strategies based on strategy list
Integrated /Holistic/Comprehensive approach
Task based learning- learning by doing/using
Learning-centered classroom
Learning for living and life long learning
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9. Advantages of Teaching/Learning CT
Engages learners in learning process
Enhances learning abilities in general and language learning
in particular
Can cater to any level or background of learner (mixed
ability groups)in large classes
Makes learning process autonomous & supports life long
learning
Learning tends to be permanent learning
Acquire transferable skills
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10. Task: I need to buy a book today (during lockdown-
pandemic prevailing)
How do you act on this?
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11. Are you thinking this way?
Buying
a book
When?
How?
Where?
What?
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12. Each Q has many solutions
What should that book be on? Content?
Where: Which place to buy? ; Will I get a reliable print of the book?
How relevant and urgent is that book? How should I reach the place
to buy?
What are the risks involved in going there?
So each Q poses a problem, the questions will help you take a
better decision to solve the problem. As you think, you also establish
a logic for the decision you have taken. If the problem does not get a
proper solution then you think of new ways to solve the problem.
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13. Develop CT as a Habit
Concept expansion- Mind maps
Questioning: Insist on how rather than what
Floor crossing : Heuristic thinking
Discussing everyday-problems: As in the example shown
Analyse every reading text from minimum three questions
- What’s the intention of the author?
- What’s the text doing?
- What can I learn from this?
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14. Your understanding of CT
What do you now understand by the term
Critical Thinking?
How do you think critical thinking is useful
for your course/programme?
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15. Q&A
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