Critical thinking is the study of clear, reasoned thinking and making well-thought out judgments. It involves skills like rationality, self-awareness, and open-mindedness. Critical thinking is important for success in today's world as it enhances skills like language, creativity, and self-reflection. Implementing technologies like robotics, digital imaging, podcasting, and webquests requires critical thinking to consider aspects like goals, audience, and ensuring activities flow seamlessly. Developing a web show also requires critical thinking as students must consider elements like scripting, camera angles, and editing to effectively convey a story.

1. By:
El izabeth Finch
Mackenzie
Duncan
Tabi tha Wat ts
Just in Peterson
CRITICAL THINKING

2. CRITICAL THINKING
 Critical thinking is the study of clear, reasoned thinking. It
means that you should make clear, reasoned judgments and
your thoughts should be reasoned and wel l thought out.
 Some characteristics include a complex combination of ski l ls,
such as: rationality, self -awareness, honesty, open-mindedness,
discipline, and judgment.
 Critical thinking is impor tant because it is the new knowledge
economy, enhances language and presentation ski l ls,
promotes creativity, and is crucial for self -reflection.
 Critical thinking in the 21st century has shif ted from a
question of how to form complex, wel l balanced opinions to a
question of how to look critically and where our information
comes from and evaluating what approaches are most
ef fective in the current, technology driven, environment.

3. IMPLEMENTING TECHNOLOGY
 Robotics-
 The creation and programming of a robot to perform even a simple task
requires one to contemplate all aspects of the task, environment, goals,
materials, and time available.
 Digi tal Imaging-
 The use of symbol, color, arrangement, and analysis of the audience
require complex thinking and planning ahead. A swastika means very
different things to a European than it does to a Hindu. Technologies like
smartboards allow teachers to put up an initial image and then modify it
throughout the class discussion in order to help illustrate a point or
discussion.
 Podcasting
 Because podcasts are listened away from the classroom environment,
and thus the context of learning, one must consider in depth the way the
content is delivered and consider how multiple people will listen to the
same message. Word choice, length, slang, and jargon all must be
carefully considered before being implemented.

4. IMPLEMENTING TECHNOLOGY
 Youtube and Storytelling
 All of the considerations of podcasting are present, along with the
new consideration of visual medium. Keeping the audience’s eyes on
the screen, not overwhelming them with color or animation, and
utilizing visual cues and elements to portray a story all must be taken
into consideration.
 Webquest
 Choosing what sites to implement and include within the webquest
requires knowledge of students abilities, resources, and skills. One
must be careful to thoroughly vet any website used and take careful
consideration to make the entire activity flow seamlessly from one
section of the quest to the next.

5. MAKING A WEB SHOW
 Requiring students to come up with a concept and initial
pitch develop ski l ls in research and planning. Having students
create and distribute surveys al lows students to gather
information that they would then have to consider the
opinions and outlooks of an entire classroom, not just those
of the smal l group.
 Fi lming and production makes students consider camera
angles, casting, and scripting in order to convey a cohesive
story.
 Editing and final production makes students consider self
reflection, storytelling, and force them to make decisions
about what is and is not necessary to the story they wish to
convey.

6. CONCLUSION
Critical thinking forms the foundation of the models of
thought necessary to thrive and survive in the modern world.
Anyone can think critically, but only those who master it as a
ski l l wi l l go on to thrive in the world of digital information.
Because of the overwhelming avai lability of raw data the abi l ity
to carefully and complexly consider information is quickly
becoming the key requirement in al l aspects of modern l ife.
Simply put, without the abi lity to imagine the world complexly,
we wi l l be lef t in the darkness of self imposed ignorance whi le
those who have real ized that truth resists simpl icity bask in the
l ight.

7. WORKS CITED
 Krei tzberg, Anne, and Char l ie Krei tzberg. "Cr i t ical Thinking for the
Twenty -Fi rst Century: What I t Is and Why I t Mat ters to You."
Agi leCr t icialThinking.com. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
<ht tp://www.agi lecr i t ical thinking.com/Por tals/0/Whi tePapers/Cr i t ical
Thinking for the 21st Centur y for Websi te.pdf>.
 Kur land, Dan. "What Is Cr i t ical Thinking." What Is Cr i t ical Thinking.
Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
<ht tp://www.cr i t ical reading.com/cr i t ical_thinking.htm>.
 Lau, Joe, and Jonathan Chan. "[Tutor ial C02] Impor tance." Cr i t ical
Thinking Web. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
<ht tp://phi losophy.hku.hk/think/cr i t ical/ct2.php>.
 Miels, Emi ly. "Program Bui lding Robots Aims to Help Students Develop
Cr i t ical Thinking, Problem Solving Ski l ls." Leader-Telegram. Web. 3 Dec.
2014.
<ht tp://www. leader telegram.com/news/f ront_page/ar t icle_f5290fd2-
54ec-11e4-b4a9-930c115958e6.html>.