The development of critical thinking

Critical thinking as an integral asset in the educational process. Many institutions are adopting critical thinking in their daily learning cycles. Whether at primary, intermediate or any age, there are various ways to learn this incredible skill. One way this is doable is through daily questions, brainteasers, quotation sources, and fantastic trivia. With critical thinking, students learn to make judgments that are logical and well-thought out. By doing this, students don't simply accept all arguments and conclusions but question answers and statements that are shared. This skill will help students prepare for futuristic real-life situations or problems.

Is critical thinking a prerequisite to success?

Looking at it through all angles, critical thinking is crucial to succeeding in life. This is not only limited to the typical workplace environment but also other fields of life. When you are in challenging situations, you need to employ critical thinking to come up with reasonable and alternative solutions.

However, not everyone has to gain this skill, as some are born with it. Nonetheless, such individuals still can improve their critical thinking process through education. With the help of teachers, students can develop critical thinking through proper training in a classroom setting.

Conventional systems of education focus more on information retention abilities and rote learning. However, this is not enough in life. It may be sufficient for solving educational problems and examinations, but it is not enough for real-life issues.

Modern learning schemes are starting to appreciate and include critical thinking in teaching and molding students. As it is needed in many sections of the economy, learning it as early as possible is mandatory. This is why pundits in the education sector are encouraging and devising means to implement critical thinking in studies. Luckily, school-going children can learn it as they grow and master the process of having a critical thought.

The relationship between critical thinking and leadership

Whether in the political space or the corporate world, good leadership is an ingredient for success. Therefore, you need to develop excellent leadership skills as early as possible if you are going to be a leader to look up to. Critical thinking is one skill that you need to be a good leader.

With the bombardment of numerous information from different sources by students today, it is not easy to discern good or bad. Separating the grains from the chaff is an attribute that you get through critical thinking. Critical thinking helps students to analyze huge chunks of information and identify misleading data and real facts.

Critical thinking is more of a personalized skill than it is communal. This is evident with individual discernment and opinions about people, things, information, and issues. It is not just about looking at things rationally and with clarity. You need to use your mind to think about what is right or wrong. For example, when you analyze various information sources, you need to personalize the sources and interpret them based on what your mind can comprehend.

When you develop the skill of critical thinking, you can quickly arrive at your conclusions without bowing down to pressure. Often, many people tend to make decisions based on what others advise them. This means that they do not own these decisions, but rather implement what others are saying.

As a leader, you need to stand by your decisions and be confident that what you say after thinking critically is right. All of the successful individuals, either in the political or corporate world, have this mandatory skill with them.

Competitive exams check which students can think critically. The same applies to job interviews. For this reason, the development and nurturing process of critical thinking should start from as early as elementary school to high schools, colleges, and universities.

How to enact critical thinking in students

As stated earlier, critical thinking is a virtue that students should learn early. However, it is not a subject or part of a stream. Yet, you can instill it as a skill in every lesson or topic you teach your students. Here are some of the best methods tutors can use to inspire critical thinking in students:

1. By asking open-ended questions - One sure way for teachers to achieve this feat is by encouraging brainstorming. You can do this by asking your students open questions and leaving them to think of answers. As they gather and brainstorm to give you the right answer, this is already critical thinking in action. Allow them to take part in discussions in a bid to seek answers to your questions. Thinking as a group employs creativity, which is crucial to critical thinking. Avoid giving direct answers to the questions posed by students. For example, if they ask you a problem, you can reply by asking them another one - what do you think? This will help to challenge their thinking process and ignite answers to the same questions they ask. Besides, even if they do not reply in a manner you deem right, respect their attempts to answer the question as you advise. Use phrases such as "I find that interesting but what do you think if…"
2. Through peer groups - This is another simple method that tutors use to impact critical thinking in their students. Students quickly come up with solutions when you place them in peer groups to collaborate. You can monitor the process and allow them to ask you any questions in case of doubts.
3. Help the kids to develop hypotheses - This is a critical thinking exercise that tutors need to employ. Try to ask kids what they think if, for instance, you do a particular thing.
4. Use playing time to your advantage - This is for kids at the elementary and intermediate levels. When they play, they get an extraordinary chance to develop critical thinking. Children at these ages explore effect and causes of different situations during games time. For instance, they will be interested to know how to balance a seesaw. Kids are naturally curious to know everything and will do things to see reactions. This process slowly develops critical thinking.
5. Pause and wait after asking questions - Do not be quick to ask for response from children when you ask a question. You need to be patient and give them sufficient time to think. A good practice is to count silently to sixty seconds or one minute as you wait for them to respond. This will allow them to develop critical thinking as they attempt to answer vital questions.
6. Encourage creativity - This is encouraged for students in high school, colleges, and universities. Creativity, as hinted earlier, is a primary part of critical thinking. By allowing students to use their distinct thought processes, you encourage creativity and critical thinking. You can achieve this as a tutor by asking questions such as, "what other ideas do you have?" This will make them dig deeper into their minds and come up with creative tips for the question you have asked. This will also make them think of all possible solutions and responses to solving that problem. If this does not ring critical thinking in your mind, then what will?
7. Giving students something to think about - This is through asking different questions that challenge their minds. Depending on the education level, various problems exist. This will help them delve into varied dimensions of thinking, as they attempt to give meaningful responses. This will develop critical thinking directly. If possible, it is advisable for tutors to point out to their students when they think critically, as many may not be aware. This will encourage them even to develop the skill further.
8. Give them opportunities that portray problem-solving - You can achieve this by dishing out tasks to students and giving flexible timelines for submission. This will help them to think critically as they attempt to deal with the tasks. Let them know that each of their solutions or answers need to be personalized. Besides, you can allow them to write in their words, without using the internet so much. This will make their responses and insight to be independent and balanced. Again, this is the best way to learn what they think and how they conceptualize ideas. Make sure that you also tell them to show or prove how they land on the answers they give. Therefore, you will need to give open-ended research tasks that do not necessarily need one to use different resources.
9. Be smart in the teaching process - As a tutor or teacher, there are several means of employing creativity in the teaching process. For example, you can deliberately write false information as you solve a problem on the board. This is to encourage students to be attentive and alert, hence, identify the problem as you teach. You can also create a wrong mathematical calculation on the board and tell your students to determine where you went wrong. This will help them to think critically as they try to solve the problem.

Conclusion

Wrapping up, you have seen what critical thinking is and how it is vital in education and real life. We have also given you several tips on teaching the skill to your students. Therefore, the ball is now in your court to implement these ideas. Remember, it takes time to nurture and instill critical thinking.

Author Bio

Susan Saurel is a full-time digital marketer and offers dissertation writing services. Susan lives in Houston, Texas, but she spends most of her spare time traveling around the globe and meeting new people and cultures. As a passionate marketer, Susan is eager to share the professional experience with her readers.