Thinking Clearly and Boldly: Critical Thinking Across the Campus Presentation by: Edna Ross, Ph.D. Associate Professor Psychology QEP Critical Thinking Specialist University of Louisville August 12, 2014 1 “Think” about the following concept: ‘The Elderly’ List 3 defining characteristics that immediately come to mind 2 Some problems with telling someone to “think” What happens when you admonish students to “think” about what they’re doing? How do you overcome ingrained and unconscious inaccurate information, biases, prejudices? How is ‘thinking’ different from ‘critical’ thinking? 3 “Normal” thinking tends to be: Self-serving Egocentric Myopic 4 One definition of critical thinking: Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process that results in a guide to belief and action. Understanding Concepts Appreciation Decisions Synthesize Application (Scriven and Paul, 2003) 5 In Nosich’s study, what percentage of male infectious disease physicians DID NOT wash their hands after using the restroom? Handwashing 6 6 In Nosich’s study, what percentage of female infectious disease physicians DID NOT wash their hands after using the restroom? Handwashing 7 7 ‘Critical’ thinking allows us to not just ‘talk the talk’ but to ‘walk the walk’. have you ‘talked the talk’ without ‘walking the walk’? When 8 Another definition of critical thinking: The Intellectual disciplined process of evaluating the components of our thinking--- WHILE WE ARE THINKING 9 The Paul-Elder framework of critical thinking… Helps with deconstructing the components of thinking: The Elements of Thought 10 The Paul-Elder framework of critical thinking… Provides a structured, consistent way of assessing the quality of thinking: The intellectual standards 12 The Paul-Elder framework of critical thinking… • Gives a snapshot of what the end result should look like: The Intellectual Traits 14 16 Thinking things through Going around the wheel… “Becoming a critical thinker means becoming adept at using the elements explicitly and reflectively in your thinking.” G. Nosich Going around the wheel with your and others’ thinking allows you to analyze, break apart, and understand the logic of an issue. It allows you to think through any topic, question or problem in a thorough way. Going around the wheel… The elderly: How has our perception of this concept changed? ‘Lenses’, ‘perspectives’, ‘points of view’: ◦ Media ◦ Age of respondent ◦ Personal experience(s) One size does NOT fit all!! 19 60 64 86 72 74 73 60 65 Critical thinking can be impeded by: Faulty mental sets Situations that trigger stereotype threat Situations that emphasize external personal characteristics Beware! 21 Let’s generate 10 ideas, insights, strategies or new concepts you are taking away from today’s session. Let’s share 10 Insights 22