Prepared by: Jemna Pitogo

 Sumner’s Definition of Critical

Thinking:
What is Critical Thinking?
(William Graham Sumner-1906)
“[Critical thinking is]… the
examination test of proportions of
any kind which are offered for
acceptance, in order to find out
whether they correspond to reality or
not.
The critical faculty is a product of
education and training. It is a prime
condition of human welfare that men
and women should be trained in it. It
is our only guarantee against
delusion, deception, superstition, and
misapprehension of ourselves and our
earthly circumstances.”
 Critical Thinking is, in short, self-
directed, self-disciplined, self-
monitored, and self-corrective
thinking. It entails effective
communication and problem
solving abilities and a commitment
to overcome our native
egocentrism and sociocentrism.
Benefits and Importance of
Critical Thinking Skills:
1. Critical Thinking is a domain-
general thinking skill.
-The ability to think clearly and
rationally is important whatever we
choose to do. If you work in
education, research, finance,
management or the legal profession,
then critical thinking is obviously
important.
2. Critical Thinking is very important in the
new knowledge economy.
- The global knowledge economy is
driven by information and technology.
One has to be able to deal with
changes quickly and effectively. The
new economy places increasing
demands on flexible intellectual skills,
and the ability to analyse information
and integrate diverse sources of
knowledge in solving problems.
3. Critical Thinking enhances
language and presentation skills.

- Thinking clearly and systematically

can improve the way we express our
ideas. In learning how to analyse the
logical structure of texts, critical
thinking also improves
comprehension abilities.
4. Critical Thinking promotes
creativity.

- To come up with a creative solution

to a problem involves not just
having new ideas. It must also be
the case that the new ideas being
generated are useful and relevant
to the task at hand.
5. CriticalThinking is crucial for
self-reflection.
- In order to live a meaningful life
and to structure our lives
accordingly, we need to justify
and reflect on our values and
decisions.
6. Good Critical Thinking is the
foundation of science and a liberal
democratic society.
- Science requires the critical use of
reason in experimentation and theory
confirmation. The proper functioning
of a liberal democracy requires
citizens who can think critically about
social issues to inform their judgments
about proper governance and to
overcome biases and prejudice.
 other benefits:
 Academic Performance
- understand the argument and beliefs of others
- critically evaluating those arguments and beliefs
- develop and defend one’s own well-supported
arguments and beliefs
 Workplace
- helps us to reflect and get a deeper understanding of
our own and other’s decisions
- encourage open-mindedness to change
- aid us in being more analytical in solving problems
 Daily Life
- helps us to avoid making foolish personal decisions
- promotes an informed and concerned citizenry
capable of making good decision on important
social, political, and economic issues
- aids in the development of autonomous thinkers
capable of examining their assumptions, dogmas, and
prejudices
Barriers to Critical Thinking:
Egocentrism
*self-centered thinking
~ self-interested thinking
~ self-serving bias
Sociocentrism
*group-centered thinking
~ group bias
~ conformism
Unwarranted Assumptions
* Beliefs that are presumed to be
true without adequate evidence
or justification
~ Assumption
~ Stereotyping
Wishful Thinking
* Believing that something is true
because one wishes it’s true.
Relativistic Thinking
*The truth is “just a matter of
opinion”
~ subjectivism
~ cultural relativism
Characteristics of a good
critical thinker:
A good critical thinker knows
how to separate facts from
opinions.
Critical thinker remains calm
and knows when he is right.
Critical thinkers consider all
options before they act.
A critical thinker has the self-
awareness to know the
difference between a rational
thought based on careful
consideration and an
emotional response based on
personal bias.
 12 Strong Strategies for Effectively
Teaching Critical Thinking Skills
 Begin with a Question

This is the simplest foray into critical thinking.

What do you want to explore and discuss? It
shouldn’t be a question you can answer with
a ‘yes’ or a ‘no.’
TIP: When you pose your question to students,
encourage brainstorming. Write down
possible answers on a chalkboard or
oversized pad as a student reference. Have
big open discussions where students can
dissect and discuss questions.
THE SIX TYPES OF SOCRATIC QUESTIONS
1. Questions for clarification:
- Why do you say that?
- How does this relate to our discussion?
- "Are you going to include diffusion in your
mole balance equations?“
2. Questions that probe assumptions:
- What could we assume instead?
- How can you verify or disapprove that
assumption?
- "Why are neglecting radial diffusion and
including only axial diffusion?"
3. Questions that probe reasons and evidence:
- What would be an example?
- What is....analogous to?
- "Do you think that diffusion is responsible for
the lower conversion?"
4. Questions about Viewpoints and
Perspectives:
- What would be an alternative?
- What is another way to look at it?
- Would you explain why it is necessary or
beneficial, and who benefits?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of...?
5. Questions that probe implications and
consequences:
What generalizations can you make?
What are the consequences of that assumption?
What are you implying?
How does...affect...?
6. Questions about the question:
What was the point of this question?
Why do you think I asked this question?
What does...mean?
How does...apply to everyday life?
 Create a Foundation

Students cannot think critically if they do

not have the information they need. Begin
any critical thinking exercise with a review
of related information. This ensures they can
recall facts pertinent to the topic.
These may stem from things like:
-reading assignments and other homework
-previous lessons or critical thinking
exercises
-a video or text
 Consult the Classics

Great literary works boast

challenging narratives and deep
characterization. They are a
perfect launch pad for critical
thinking.
 Creating a Country
How does one create a
country from scratch? This
could be great project-based
learning scenario. It requires
sufficient research to discover
what actually “makes” a
country. In the process students
learn history, geography,
politics, and more.
TIP: Leave this assignment
open-ended over a couple of
days or weeks so they can
really dig deep.
 Use Information Fluency

- Part of critical thinking is knowing when

to pursue and when to discard
information. Students must learn to
amass the appropriate knowledge to
inform that thinking. Teaching critical
thinking skills can be supported by an
understanding of Information Fluency.
- It’s about learning how to dig through
knowledge in order to find the most
useful and appropriate facts for solving
a problem.
 Utilize Peer Groups

There is comfort in numbers, as the saying

goes. Digital kids thrive on environments
where critical thinking skills develop
through teamwork and collaboration.
Show kids their peers are an excellent
source of information, questions, and
problem-solving techniques.
 Try One Sentence

 Problem-Solving

Assigning a specific problem is one of

the best avenues for teaching critical
thinking skills. Leave the goal or
“answer” open-ended for the widest
possible approach. This is the essence of
asking essential questions that have no
easy answer. It requires discovery and
synthesis of knowledge through critical
thinking.
 Return to Roleplaying

Roleplaying has always been an

excellent method for exercising
critical thinking. It involves inhabiting
another persona and it’s
characteristics. It’s the main reason
why actors do tireless research for
their roles. Becoming someone else
calls upon stretching both your
analytical and creative mind.
 Speaking With Sketch

There are inherently

visual learners. It’s
challenging to
effectively
communicate an idea
without words, though.
Translating thoughts to
picture form
encourages critical
thinking beautifully.
 Prioritize It

Put teaching critical thinking skills at

the forefront of your lessons. Every
subject offers opportunities for critical
thinking. Check understanding and
offer room for discussion. It will help
even if such periods are brief. You’ll
begin to see critical thinking as a
culture rather than just an activity.
 Change Their Misconceptions

Critical thinking involves intensive

work and concentration. Students
should be left to themselves for much
of the process. That said, it can be
helpful to step in partway through
their process. You can do this to
correct misconceptions or
assumptions