critical thinking

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© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

CHAPTER 5

Critical and Creative Thinking:

Solving Problems and Making Decisions

Keys to Effective Learning, 6eCarol Carter, Joyce Bishop, and Sarah Lyman Kravits

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Habit for success: Create and

Imagine

“All human beings have the capacity to generate novel, clever, or ingenious products, solutions, and techniques…Creative people

take risks and frequently push the boundaries of their perceived limits.”

Art Costa

Keys to Effective Learning 6e,Ch05

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Why is it important to

ask and answer questions?


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The essence of thinking is asking questions and

seeking answers.


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How do you improve your critical thinking skills?


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Critical thinking is the process of:

• Gathering information.• Analyzing it in different ways.• Evaluating it for the purposes of gaining

understanding, solving a problem, or making a decision.


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To analyze information, you:• Break it into parts.• Examine whether examples support

ideas.• Distinguish fact from opinion.• Examine perspectives and

assumptions.


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Use the CARS test to analyze information on

the Internet

Check for…• Credibility• Accuracy• Reliability• Support


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A Statement of Fact is information presented as objectively real and

verifiable.*****************

A Statement of Opinion is a belief, conclusion, or judgment that is

inherently difficult, and sometimes impossible, to verify.

Take a Look at Key 4.2Keys to Effective Learning 6e,Ch05

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How can you improve your creative thinking

skills?


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Creative thinking can be described as:

• Combining existing elements in a new way

• Generating new ideas from seeing how things are related

• Having new ideas that go against how things have always been


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Brainstorm

Let your mind free-associate, generating ideas

and solutions without immediately deciding

whether they are valuable.


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Creative people…• Challenge assumptions.• Shift their perspective.• Ask “what if” questions.• Choose creative environments.• Are curious.• Are willing to “sit” with a question.• Fly in the face of convention.• Accept and learn from mistakes.


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Try shifting your perspective


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How can you solve problems and

make decisions effectively?

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Problem solving and decision making are similar.

What are the differences?

• A problem exists when a situation has negative effects. In contrast, decision making aims to fulfill a need.

• Problem solving means coming up with possible solutions. In contrast, in decision making your choices are often determined.


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How to think through problems and decisions.

Step 1: Analyze. Define the problem or decision.Step 2: Analyze. Examine the problem or decision carefully.Step 3: Create. Generate possible solutions; name or generate different options.Step 4: Evaluate. Look carefully at pros and cons of each solution or option.Step 5: Choose and act. Put the solution to work; act on your decision.Step 6: Re-evaluate. Look at how well your solution or decision worked out.Step 7: Apply results. In the future, apply what you’ve learned to similar problems or decisions.(Take a look at Key 5.7 on p. 144 for more detail)


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Create a path to a solution.

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Habits for success are problem-solving tools.

You use one or more as you pose problems, brainstorm and evaluate solutions, take action,

and assess how everything turned out.


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Real People Create and Imagine

Charlie Reinhardt


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“The best way to have a

good idea is to have lots of ideas.”

Linus Pauling
