|
Introduction to Critical Thinking
In order to fully understand and perform effectively in any field or discipline, it is necessary to have a strong command of the fundamentals of that discipline. By first reading the article "An Introduction to Critical Thinking," those seeking to develop critical thinking skills can become acquainted with the fundamentals and those who already possess such skills can refresh them. Whichever the case, the resources here present different perspectives and definitions of the core concepts that can help improve teaching. This
introductory
section of the Think Bank outlines a brief history of critical thinking
as seen through the lens of philosophy. Knowing how the concept of
critical (and creative) thinking began informs our understanding of current
trends in the field. After all, the use of questioning strategies
in our classrooms today stems from the teaching methods of Socrates. For
those who may feel skeptical about critical and creative thinking, this
section includes an explanation of the rationale behind these thinking
processes. This is followed by resources that define and outline
the core concepts behind critical and creative thinking. It is important
to realize that there are a variety of definitions but together they are
unified in the reasoning and approaches behind critical thinking.
Tutorials that aid in the learning and application of critical and creative
thinking techniques are also included so that you and your students can
practice mapping arguments, recognizing forms of logic, and reading essays
analytically. |