The academic mind is deconstructing all the time: This is what we are trained to do. As stated by Constance Staley in her book, critical thinking has become the way I think. It is not being argumentive or attacking ideas. Rather, it is retaining academic humility and always acknowledging that I am aware of how much I do NOT know! Hope you find Staley's tips useful. Agedoc.
Five Habits of a
Critical Thinker
Critical
thinking skills don't just "happen." Just like brushing your teeth,
those skills need to be practiced on a regular basis before they can become a
more natural part of your learning processes.
In her book FOCUS
on College Success, Constance Staley offers students five tips for honing
their critical-thinking skills. Encourage your students to reflect on these
points, and they will reap the benefits!
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1.
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If you don't know
something, admit it.
Then, endeavor to learn more.
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2.
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Acknowledge your
"hot buttons."
It's normal to have strong feelings about particular issues. When you know
which issues those are, you can make a point to understand why they affect
you as they do. In turn, this helps you better articulate your thoughts to
others.
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3.
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Seek to understand
other peoples' points of view. In addition to gaining a well-rounded perspective on a topic,
this will enable you to better respond to others' arguments.
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4.
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"Trust and
verify." Don't blindly accept
what you hear or read — yet don't feel the need to maintain a skeptical
attitude towards everything.
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5.
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Always remember the
importance of critical thinking as it relates to your education. The more value you place on critical
thinking, the more likely you'll put its principles into practice — and the
efforts will pay off in all aspects of your life! (Adapted from Staley,
128-130)
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Content adapted
from Staley, Constance. 2013. FOCUS
on College Success. 3rd ed. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
