Practical models and frameworks

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Before deciding on a definition for critical thinking, please take a look at this snappy four minute video: Do You Think? by DigitalSplashMedia. On the basis of the concepts presented in the video, do you believe that you are a critical thinker?

Now, work through this case study activity to check out your understanding of critical thinking skills:



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Case Study: Emilia

One of the students in class has been accessing Facebook on her laptop. Emilia does not want to embarrass the girl so after class she asks a colleague (Jane) what she should do.

Jane: "Is the student completing the work?"
Emilia: "Yes, she is"
Jane: "So why is it an issue?"
Emilia: "I don't feel comfortable with it, because she could distract the others"
Jane: "But is she?"
Emilia: "No."
Jane: "So why do you really have a problem with it? What are your reasons."
Emilia: "Well, she may be rushing her tasks to go on FB, but they are done much better than the others, so this doesn't seem to be the case. I don't like her being distracted, but then it is probably better than sitting there talking."




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Activity

  1. What are the assumptions made by Emilia?
  2. What could Emilia do to check these assumptions?
  3. How can Emilia find out what is true and what is false?
  4. What are the implications if Emilia lets the student continue on?
    • What other alternatives does she have?
  5. How can Emilia justify her decisions?
  6. What else should Emilia do?
Now see how these questions fit with a model of critical thinking.





Model for critical thinking

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This activity with Emilia demonstrates how the critical thinking model developed by Dr Peter Facione can be used. He describes six core critical thinking skills.

Interpretation
Deconstruction of experiences, beliefs, situations, judgments etc. to understand and describe their significance and what they mean.
  • What are the assumptions or judgments?
Analysis
Identifying the relationships within representations (statements, questions, concepts, descriptions) associated with an interpretation.
  • What can be done to check the assumptions or judgments?
Evaluation
Assessing the credibility of representations and the strength of the relationships that emerge from analysis.
  • Are the assumptions or judgments true or false?
Inference
Extracting the potential meaning from the data that is presented.
  • What are the implications or alternatives?
Explanation
Presenting a clear, logical and consistent argument of the outcomes.
  • How can the outcomes be justified?
Self-regulation
Monitoring the critical thinking process to confirm, validate or change the outcomes.
  • What else can be done to monitor the outcomes?

(Facione, 2011.)


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Image courtesy of mikebaird

Definitions of critical thinking

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. (Scriven & Paul, 1987.)

To read more about this definition, and the complexities that surround the concept of critical thinking, please visit The Critical Thinking Community website.

The Foundation for Critical Thinking has developed the concept further and published this definition:

Critical thinking is that mode of thinking — about any subject, content, or problem — in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it. Critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem-solving abilities, as well as a commitment to overcome our native egocentrism and sociocentrism (2011).

The other prominent name in the field of critical thinking is Dr Peter Facione. In his popular essay: Critical thinking: What it is and why it counts, he presents his research-based ideas. He uses questions to help readers to think critically to develop a definition for themselves, and grasp the meaning of critical thinking.



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Extra resources

  • Questions for Assessing Critical Thinking Usefully - a presentation by Peter Facione (2012).