Critical thinking is a kind of thinking in which you question, analyse, interpret, evaluate and make a judgement about what you read, hear, say, or write. The term critical comes from the Greek word kritikos meaning “able to judge or discern

Critical thinking is a kind of thinking in which you question, analyse, interpret, evaluate and make a judgement about what you read, hear, say, or write. The term critical comes from the Greek word kritikos meaning “able to judge or discern

1. Critical Thinking Critical Thinking

4. T H
I N
K
I N
G
“The intellectually disciplined
process of actively and skillfully
Conceptualizing, applying,
analyzing, synthesizing and
evaluating information.”*

5. T H
I N
K
I N
G
“Critical thinking is the art of
analyzing
and evaluating thinking with a
view
to improving it.”*

6. Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking
Critical thinking is an intellectually disciplined
process of actively and skilfully conceptualizing,
applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating
information gathered from or generated by
observation, experience, reflection, reasoning or
communication as a guide to belief and action.
Is the ability to analyze information and
experiences. It can help us recognize and assess
the factors that influence our attitude and behavior
Example: Media pressure, peer pressure

7. Case study 1
Seema belong to a very poor family. She
completed her 12
th
. One day a distant relative
visits them and promises their parents of good
job for their daughter in Mumbai. The girls had
earlier heard about stories of unfortunate girls
falling prey to such false promises and ending up
their life . Their parents are adamant to send
them to solve their poverty. Discuss what
should girls do to save themselves.

8. Case study 2
Ashish and Rohit are good friends studying in degree
first year in a local college of Laxmi Nagar. Rohit’s uncle
belongs to a local outfit and earns a good money living a
lavish life through unlawful activities . He asks Rohit to
enrol new cadres into the outfit. Ashish belongs to a
poor family. Rohit knowing Ashish’s financial condition,
pressurises him to join them and promises to pay a
good sum of money if takes some explosives to be
blown in Delhi. Ashish knows it to be unlawful work
but is afraid. He also wants to change his good friend
Rohit. Discuss what should Ashish do?

9. Case study 3
Sanjana and Rahul are two young friends of
Baroda . Sanjana is good in studies and works
very hard. Rahul even if a good student,
gradually he falls into the company of some
youth who are engaged in unlawful activities.
He starts taking drugs , alcohol etc and wants
Sanjana to join them and enjoy life by easy
money through nabbing money. He threatens
Sanjana to break the friendship if she doesn’t
join them. Sanjana knows that Rahul is basically
a good boy who has been mislead. Discuss what
should sanjana do to help Rahul...

10. Case study 4Case study 4
Roshan was part of a big group of friends. All
his friends wanted to try alcohol on the last day
of school. They told Roshan that it was a rare
opportunity because all of them may not come
together again after that day. Roshan is
confused whether it is right or wrong. How you
can help him to solve his problem.

11. What is Critical Thinking?What is Critical Thinking?
 A set of skills needed to assess ideas (Robert Ennis).
 For example:
– Comparing/Contrasting
– Classifying
– Analysing
– Causal Explanation
– Evaluating (Robert Swartz)
 The ability and intellectual commitment, to use those skills to
guide behaviour (Scriven and Paul, 2004).

12. Steps in critical thinkingSteps in critical thinking
 Perception
 Analysis
 Comparison
 Synthesis
 Naming

13. TIME PERMITTING, WORK THROUGH
ACTIVITIES IN YOUR BOOKLET.
BE SURE TO THINK CRITICALLY!
Why is Critical Thinking
Important?

14. Critical thinkers . . .
Goal: to become critical thinkers

15. Raise vital questions
Formulate questions
and problems clearly, precisely
By :
--raising vital questions
--formulating questions clearly
and precisely

16. •Gather information
•Analyze and assess it
• Evaluate it
By:
--gathering information, then
assessing it and determining
what it means and what it is
worth
--Gathers and assesses relevant
information, using abstract ideas
to interpret it effectively,

17. Draw conclusions
Find solutions
Use relevant
criteria to test them
By:
--drawing conclusions
from the information
presented
--finding possible
solutions and testing
them with relevant
criteria

18. Keep an open
mind
By
--maintaining an open mind

19. Network w/others;
keep lines of
communication open
By networking with others
and maintaining
open lines of communication
with them
and others.

20. How to develop?How to develop?
•
Develop a sense of observation and curiosityDevelop a sense of observation and curiosity
• Become interested in finding new solutionsBecome interested in finding new solutions
• Share ideasShare ideas
• Ask pertinent questionsAsk pertinent questions
• Assess statements and argumentsAssess statements and arguments
• Seek understanding and informationSeek understanding and information

21. Also . . .
• Examine beliefs, assumptions, and
opinions
• Listen to others, think about what
they say, give feedback
• Become an open-minded listener and
reader

22. An individual with critical thinking skills will An individual with critical thinking skills will
be able to do the followingbe able to do the following
Raise pertinent questions, which are clear
and precise.
Identify the relevance and importance of
ideas.
Understand the logical connections
between ideas.
Assess statements and arguments.

23. Contd..Contd..
Detect inconsistencies and common
mistakes in reasoning.
Examine beliefs, assumptions, and options
and weigh them against facts.
Listen carefully to others and give feed
back.
Suspend judgement until all facts have
been gathered and considered.

24. Contd..Contd..
Look for evidence to support
assumptions and beliefs.
Adjust opinions when new facts are
found.
Reject information that is incorrect or
irrelevant.
Interested in finding new solutions.

25. Barriers to Critical ThinkingBarriers to Critical Thinking
Egocentrism (self-centered thinking):
The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of
age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background,
is that deep down inside, we all believe that we are better
than average drivers (Dave Barry).
 Socio centrism (group-centered thinking): When all
think alike, no one is thinking (Walter Lippmann)
Bassham et al., 2002

26. Nurturing critical thinkingNurturing critical thinking
 Encourage thinking + reflection with
prediction questions
Setting tasks/tests which will require to
exercise their choice + use suitable
strategies
 Encourage with positive feedback on
their effort.

27. Contd..Contd..
Create opportunities to problem-solve +
to justify their choice with good reasons
 To understand that many solutions are
there for a problem + seek alternative
solutions

28. Thank YouThank You