How to develop critical thinking in teachers? The Challenged Thinker (we become aware of problems in our thinking). (Paul & Elder).
Some of the things as Paul and Elder points out is outlined in following list of critical thinking development or strategies:
- Make questionable assumptions.
- Use false, incomplete or misleading information
- Make inferences that do not follow from the evidence we have.
- Fail to recognize important implications in our thought.
- Form faulty concepts.
- Reason within prejudiced points of view.
- Think egocentrically and irrationally.
After all of the above is taken into consideration we move to the "challenged" stage. "Even the best thinkers had to recognize at some point the superficiality of their thinking if they were to grow beyond it". (Paul & Elder) (p.261).
- How we think shapes our lives.
- How we think causes problems in our lives and thus whatever we do has implications and consequences which also affects those in our lives.
- Poor or unintelligent thinking can be life threatening. It can lead to death or permanent injury.
- How we think can hurt others as well as ourselves.
Propose Strategies to increase the knowledge of our learners: (Paul & Elder) (p.29).
"We need to make conscious commitment to learn". (Paul & Elder)
"Bring significant ideas accurately into the mind". (Paul & Elder) (p.25).
Some key questions to ask: (Paul & Elder) (p.29).
- Do we have the skills we need in critical thinking so that we can effectively evaluate the information received.
- Being able to recognize whether the information is factual and can be verified for accuracy and reliability.
- Is this information something that I can actively use?
- Understand that the information can be accurate or inaccurate, logical or illogical, justified or unjustified.
Whatever we do, we need to take serious thought about our thinking and careful consideration, weigh the pros and cons by using the "IF" factor, if I do this, than, if I do that, what. Ultimately, what we decide is really up to the individual. For the most part, all of us are where we are because we chose to be. We have to make a "conscious decision" and start thinking "outside the box", and broaden our knowledge base, skills and abilities, so that we can be better informed, able to empower students and others by the knowledge we've gained.
Adaptive Leadership skills and transformative leadership skills is crucial inorder to make a difference, and being able to recognize when the opportunity presents itself, that's the time you can make the difference count. The students who approach learning seriously will be the ones who will ultimately succeed. The problems with most of our students, the level of maturity is not there and thus, as it was with me, their focus is not primarily where it needs to be.
In order to "improve our thinking we have to change our habits", (Paul & Elder, p.261), and sometimes habits are not easily broken. We should do some "reflective thinking" ask ourselves is my thinking logical, rational or irrational.
When we can be real with ourselves, "authentic reflectiveness", and then our motivation will lead us to change. (Paul & Elder, p.260).
The path that I have chosen is Mapping inorder to plot my course through this project.
Ultimately how you think will determine how you will present yourself to others and see yourself in the classroom.
