This document provides information about an online workshop on critical thinking skills. It discusses defining critical thinking, identifying benefits, applying strategies, and understanding individual preferences for strategies. The workshop covers barriers to critical thinking like cultural conditioning and stereotyping. It then presents methods and tools for critical thinking like force field analysis, mind maps, and Six Hat Thinking. Attendees are encouraged to consider which strategies they will apply going forward.

1. UBC LIBRARY STUDENT SERVICESIRVING K BARBER CENTRE FOR TEACHING,LEARNING CENTRE AND LEARNING TECHNOLOGYThe Online Workshop Series Presents:How to Think Critically

2. INSERT POLL ON STUDENT BACKGROUNDPhoto used under CC License: http://bit.ly/gD3qdw

3. How to think CriticallyPhoto used under CC License: http://bit.ly/e9akx1

4. What you’ll walk away with today:1. Define what it means to engage in critical thought 2. Identify benefits of critical thinking3. Direct application of critical thinking strategies4. Know your individual preference for certain strategiesPhoto used under CC License: http://bit.ly/fTVbX6

5. Insert PollCritical Thinking Inventory:Check which of the following actions you undertake at university:Do you seek to clearly understand your academic tasks before undertaking them?Do you create strategies for doing tasks and meeting goals?Do you think about techniques and strategies that you are good at, and that have worked for you in the past?Do you have confidence in your ability to understand academic requirements?Do you recognize when you may be off track or misunderstanding a task?Do you learn from each task about your strengths and weaknesses?Do you ask yourself about what you would like to learn about a topic?Are you able to determine the big picture - the overall concepts of a course?Can you determine the most important concepts and ideas?Do you ask yourself what is coming next, what the author or lecturer will say next?Do you visualize or diagram your work?

6. What is Critical Thinking?Photo used under CC License: http://bit.ly/gD3qdw

7. It is not…Thinking hardExpending a lot of energySpending a lot of timePhoto used under CC License: http://bit.ly/e5R4Hi

8. Critical Thinking is…A set of skills that can be applied to any number of problems as opposed to an answer that only solves one problem.Photo used under CC License: http://bit.ly/gD3qdw

9. We have barriers to overcome…Photo used under CC License: http://bit.ly/i0MT91

10. Triple ThreatCultural ConditioningStereotyping

11. Either/Or Thinking

12. Imposing Modern Values onto the PastResistance to ChangeXenophobia

13. Centrisms

14. PrejudiceEmpty AbstractionsAppeal to the sacred/demonization

15. EuphemismGuiding PrinciplesUnfounded positions should be alteredExplanations must both explain and be testableEmbrace skepticismReason should be founded on logic, not emotions

16. Spectrum of AuthorityDiagram Adapted from Jarrett Walker: http://bit.ly/fcjg2U

17. Consider the Debate about Wind PowerPhoto used under CC License: http://bit.ly/hybFT4

18. Insert PollGive an example of something that has hindered you from Critical Thinking in the past

19. Basic Methods and ToolsPhoto used under CC License: http://bit.ly/i5bWwg

20. Force Field Analysis Driving Forces Current Restraining forces Future “helps” State “Hinders”

21. Why use Force Field Analysis? It can help you achieve goals

22. Useful for breaking down complex decisions

23. Can help you consider a decision as tasks that need to be done

24. Encourages you to engage with productive forces Photo used under CC License: http://bit.ly/e9akx1

25. AdvantagesMore Compact than notesHelps make AssociationsCan easily integrate information into sections

26. Mind Maps are Useful for…Summarize informationThinking through complex problems; and Presenting information in a format that shows structure of your subject

27. Advanced Methods and ToolsPhoto used under CC License: http://bit.ly/esLhY6

28. CoRT (Cognitive Research Trust)PMI (Plus, Minus, Interesting)CAF (Consider All Factors)C & S (Consequence and Sequel)APC (Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices).OPV (Other People's Views)Photo used under CC License: http://bit.ly/gtX4AO

29. PMI (Plus : Minus : Interesting)Give Good PointsGive Bad PointsWhat You Find Interesting

30. CAF (Consider All Factors)Make a list of all factorsTry to see if others have left out factors

31. C&S (Consequence and Sequel)ImmediateShort TermLong TermPhoto used under CC License: http://bit.ly/http://bit.ly/hi4cn0

32. APC (Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices)Consider alternativesIncorporate all possibilitiesFactor in choicePhoto used under CC License: http://bit.ly/http://bit.ly/gR0Xf2

33. OPV (Other People's Views)Consider the points of view of othersCompensate for themIncorporate themPhoto used under CC License: http://bit.ly/http://bit.ly/hC9I0W

34. Six Hat ThinkingA way of extending your thinking by trying on different guises in the analogy of hats.Photo used under CC License: http://bit.ly/gKXQSm

35. White Hat (Logic)Allows you to:Be NeutralNo need to justifyUndertake core data collectionInformation

36. Questions

37. Facts