Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

The concepts of critical thinking and perception are both gaining increasing importance in the world today. Critical thinking allows one to understand difficult concepts in a manner that is clearer and more defined. One can more readily understand those concepts if they employ critical thinking. In all portions of everyday life, a person is expected to make independent judgments. Those judgments are based on experience and knowledge. Without the ability to think critically, every situation that a person comes across would have to be considered in isolation from all other situations. When a person encounters a problem that is a new one, he or she may be able to use critical thinking to solve those problems. One manner in which a person can develop critical thinking skills is through using them in all situations. By doing this, a person can discern when to use certain skills. One way of using critical thinking is to review material and analyze that material. There are many times when critical thinking is an important concept. It is important in the classroom. It is important in the boardroom. It is important for not only the student, but also the CEO. The mother or the teacher can apply critical thinking. Doctors employ critical thinking, as do nurses. Everyone employs critical thinking at one time or another whether or not this is even realized. This critical thinking needs to be channeled as well as focused. While critical thinking is important in all occupations, it must begin in childhood. Teachers must help their students to develop critical thinking modalities. Critical thinking helps considerably in problem solving. Without critical thinking, one must rely on old and outdated information. All businesses, from the simplest to the most technologically advanced, need critical thinkers. Critical thinking also helps in decision-making. Both problem solving and decision-making abilities are vital to a prosperous business. Persons who are critical thinkers can make a difference in the companies in which they are employed. Today's corporations must first recognize that there is a real need for critical thinkers. It is important for both the top management down the line. Critical thinking must be taught and built in to the way the company or organization performs its business. In fact, companies and organizations must embrace the concept of critical thinking. Critical thinking can lead to success story after success story. This type of impact gives any company or organization credibility. According to Supon, one of the fundamental purposes of teaching critical thinking is to enhance the abilities of students to become critical thinkers. Corporate leaders, educational researchers, employers, and parents have continually pushed teachers to assist their students in the development of critical thinking ability. Critical thinking is a skill that "involved not only knowledge of content by also concept formation and analysis, reasoning and drawing conclusions, recognizing and avoiding contradiction, and other essential cognitive activities" (Supon, 1998). There are proposed reasons for the emphasis that is currently on critical thinking. Many factors can be related to this emphasis. They include the societal factors of economic shifts globally, the dissemination of massive amounts of information, and occupational mobility (Supon, 1998). Unfortunately, educators face barriers that are numerous when they make an attempt at creating thinking classrooms. Those barriers include, "insecurities about their own abilities to think critically, fear on the part of students that they will be ridiculed by their peers when they share experiences, and teachers' own attachment to the lecture method." Supon notices that there are numerous ways in which to overcome those barriers (Supon, 1998). A change in the teacher's attitude toward teaching critical thinking must be achieved. According to Kirby and Goodpaster, "There is no Holy Grail of facilitating critical thinking and no one way to instructional enlightenment." When a teacher makes a commitment to allowing students employ in learning that is both meaningful and enthusiastic, he is contributing to efforts of critical thinking. The teacher must hone his skills by attending seminars and staff meetings, and reading educational journals concerning the ways to teach thinking. The pattern of routine thinking must be broken by alternative teaching methods that will serve to develop critical thinking. The teacher must be able to think critically in order to be able to teach the student to teach critically (Moore and Parker, 2000). When the attitudes and methods of educators assist their students in the so-called "practical wisdom" that is necessary for the student in order to engage in learning, critical thinking occurs. (Moore and Parker, 2000). When students recognize that there is a relationship between their