Педагогические науки/5. Современные методы преподавания

c.p.s. Novozhilova M.V.

M.Kh.Dulaty Taraz State Ubiversity, Kazakhstan

What do you need to think critically?

A number of skills, attitudes, and approaches can help us evaluate information and make decisions. Analytical thinking asks, “How can I break this problem down into its constituent parts?” Creative thinking asks, “How might I approach this problem in new and inventive ways?” Logical thinking asks, “How can orderly, deductive reasoning help me think clearly?” Critical thinking asks, “What am I trying to accomplish here and how will I know when I’ve succeeded?” Reflective thinking asks, “What does it all mean?”

Different approaches to thinking are used to solve different kinds of problems or to study alternate aspects of a single issue.

Critical thinking is central in the constellation of thinking skills. It challenges us to examine theories, facts, and options in a systematic, purposeful, and responsible manner. It shares many methods and approaches with other methods of reasoning but add some important contextual skills, attitudes, and dispositions. Furthermore, it challenges us to plan methodically and to assess the process as well as the implications of our decisions. Thinking critically can help us discover hidden ideas and means, develop strategies for evaluating reasons and conclusions in arguments, recognize the difference between facts and values, and avoid jumping to conclusions. Richard Paul, chair of the National Council for Critical Thinking, identifies ten steps in critical thinking:

1. What is the purpose of my thinking?

2. What precise question am I trying to answer?

3. Within what point of view am I thinking?

4. What information am I using?

5. How am I interpreting that information?

6. What concepts or ideas are central to my thinking?

7. What conclusions am I aiming toward?

8. What am I taking for granted; what assumptions am I making?

9. If I accept the conclusions, what are the implications?

10. What would the consequences be, if I put my thoughts into action?

From these steps we can notice that many critical thinking processes are self-reflective and self-correcting. This form of thinking is sometimes called “thinking about thinking”. It is an attempt to plan rationally how to analyze a problem, to monitor your progress while you are doing it, and to evaluate how your strategy worked and what you have learned when you are finished. It is not critical in the sense of finding fault, but it makes a conscious, active, disciplined effort to be aware of hidden motives and assumptions, to uncover bias, and to recognize the reliability or unreliability of sources.

Critical attitudes, tendencies, and dispositions are essential for well-reasoned analysis. Professor Karen J. Warren of Macalester College suggests the following list:

- Skepticism and independence. Question authority. Don’t believe everything you hear or read; even experts sometimes are wrong.

- Open-mindedness and flexibility. Be willing to consider differing points of view and to entertain alternative explanations. Try arguing from a viewpoint different from your own. It will help you identify weaknesses and limitations in your own position.

- Accuracy and orderliness. Strive for as much precision as the subject permits or warrants. Deal systematically with parts of a complex whole. Be disciplined in the standards you apply.

- Persistence and relevance. Stick to the main point. Don’t allow diversions or personal biases to lead you astray. Information may be interesting or even true, but it is relevant?

- Contextual sensitivity and empathy. Consider the total situation, relevant context, feelings, level of knowledge, and sophistication of others as you evaluate information. Imagine being in someone else’s place to try to understand how they feel.

- Decisiveness and courage. Draw conclusions and take a stand when the evidence warrants doing so. Although we often wish for more definitive information, sometimes a well-reasoned conditional position has to be the basis for action.

- Humility. Realize that you may be wrong and that reconsideration may be called for in the future. Be careful about making absolute declarations; you may need to change your mind someday.

While critical thinking shares many of the orderly, systematic approaches of formal logic, it also invokes traits like empathy, sensitivity, courage, and humility. Formulating intelligent opinions about some of the complex issues you’ll encounter in environmental science requires more than simple logic. Developing these attitudes and skills is not easy or simple. It takes practice. You have to develop your mental faculties just as you need to train for a sport. Traits such as intellectual integrity, modesty, fairness, compassion, and fortitude are not things you can use only occasionally. They must be cultivated until they become your normal way of thinking.

Literature

1. Paul, R. 2006. The miniature guide to critical thinking. Concepts and tools.

2. Warren, K. 2001. Philosophy Department, St. Paul, MN

3. Fisher, A. 2001. Critical thinking: an introduction. Cambridge University Press.