Monthly Archives: September 2024

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Is Harris a better candidate than Trump?

What is critical thinking? In 1997, Halpern stated that critical thinking usually requires us to consider general issues that cut across several domains. These problems are frequently ill-defined and have many possible solutions, or even maybe unsolvable.  Consider some issues we must weigh when choosing a president: how to eliminate or at least reduce the national debt, the constitutionality of abortion and immigration, and whether financial aid should be offered to formally hostile foreign nations.  

Most critical thinking is directed towards one’s internal states (Butler, 2024), using the example of politics again, how does one consider a political affiliation? This requires that we first need. To clarify and evaluate our beliefs and expectations about each of the parties and candidates, So one definition of critical thinking is reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do in a particular context (Ennis, 1987). 

Critical thinking is better thinking (Perkins, 2001). This view suggests that learning to think critically improves our ability to gather, interpret, evaluate, and select information for the purpose of making informed choices. Many suspect we suspect that this is a definition most teachers and parents have in mind when they say students need to think critically about their lives (Bruning et al., 2004). In other words, considering how the decisions we make today will affect our future. 

Nickerson (1987) proposed that critical thinking is directed at adopting versus clarifying a goal. This view emphasizes critical thinking as a means to an end, i.e., reaching a decision, versus the view that emphasizes a process one uses to reach a decision. I believe that both sides of the process are important. Halpern (2014) expands this line of thought when she implies that the use of critical thinking skills increase the probability of a desirable outcome. It is used to describe thinking that is purposeful, reasoned, and goal directed—the kind of thinking involved in solving problems, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making decisions.

At this point, you might ask yourself how I can improve my critical thinking.  This means changing the way you evaluate contrasting positions or the clarity of ideas. The process of critical thinking involves many essential skills. Halpern (1998) Distinguishes between two major classes of critical thinking: dispositions and abilities. The former refers to effective and dispositional traits that each person brings to a thinking task, such as open-mindedness, the attempt to be well-informed, and sensitivity to others’ beliefs and feelings. The latter refers to the actual cognitive abilities necessary to think critically, including focusing and judging. Over the next week, see how you can use your critical thinking skills to improve your daily outcomes. Practice some new critical thinking skills and let me know what you find out.

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Do you need better critical thinking skills?

The purpose of the next few posts is to examine conceptual models and use them to develop critical thinking skills that one can use in their everyday life. The first model is Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model, also known as the Ecological Systems Theory, provides a framework for understanding how various environmental systems influence human development.  This model can be linked to the development of critical thinking skills in several ways.  First, we define the model.

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model

Bronfenbrenner’s model consists of five interrelated systems that shape an individual’s development:

  1. Microsystem: Immediate environments such as family, school, and peers.
  2. Mesosystem: Interactions between different microsystems (e.g., relationships between family and school).
  3. Exosystem: External environments that indirectly influence development (e.g., parents’ workplaces).
  4. Macrosystem: Broader cultural and societal influences.
  5. Chronosystem: Changes over time that affect development (e.g., life transitions, historical events).

Association with Critical Thinking Skills

The University of Louisville indicates that critical thinking involves analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information to make reasoned judgments. Here’s how each system in Bronfenbrenner’s model can contribute to the development of these skills:

  1. Microsystem:
    • Family: Parents and siblings can encourage questioning and problem-solving, fostering an environment where critical thinking is valued.
    • School: Teachers and peers play a crucial role in developing critical thinking through discussions, debates, and collaborative projects.
  2. Mesosystem:
    • Interconnections: Positive interactions between family and school can reinforce critical thinking skills. For example, parental involvement in school activities can enhance a child’s learning experiences and promote critical thinking.
  3. Exosystem:
    • Indirect Influences: Factors such as parents’ work environments can impact the resources and time available for fostering critical thinking at home. Supportive work policies can enable parents to be more involved in their children’s education.
  4. Macrosystem:
    • Cultural Values: Societal attitudes towards education and critical thinking can shape how these skills are taught and valued. Cultures that emphasize inquiry and open-mindedness are likely to promote stronger critical thinking skills.
  5. Chronosystem:
    • Temporal Changes: Life events and historical contexts can influence the development of critical thinking. For instance, exposure to diverse perspectives over time can enhance one’s ability to think critically.

Practical Implications

Understanding the association between Bronfenbrenner’s model and critical thinking can help educators, parents, and policymakers create environments that nurture these skills. For example:

  • Educators can design curricula that integrate critical thinking exercises across subjects.
  • Parents can engage in activities that promote questioning and exploration.
  • Policymakers can support educational reforms that emphasize critical thinking.
  • Citizens can choose policies that support their cultural values.

Tell me what you think when you get a chance!

Adrian