i want good thinking on this this involves critical thinking – have i seen this problem before,...

I want goodThinking on

this

This involves Critical Thinking – have I seen this problem before, what are the likely

causes, what information do I need to clearly

interpret what’s occurring....?

Good thinking, what’s that?

What is thinking?

Thinking is the conscious and goal-directed mental activity we do in order to solve problems

Diploma in Chemical Engineering CP5033 Plant Safety & Loss PreventionDiploma in Chemical Engineering CP5033 Plant Safety & Loss Prevention

Copyright 2010: D. Sale & SM Cheah. All Rights ReservedCopyright 2010: D. Sale & SM Cheah. All Rights Reserved

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In a perfect world, In a perfect world, we would not have to thinkwe would not have to think

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Because we would never have to solve any problems

The Process of Problem-Solving

Problem AnalysisProblem Analysis

Problem DefinitionProblem Definition

Solution FindingSolution Finding

Action PlanningAction Planning

• Recognition of a ‘problem’• Exploration of the problem• Data gathering to understand

the problem

• A clear – “best” – picture of the problem is achieved

• Possible solutions are identified• Data is sought, analysed and

interpreted• Criteria are used to determine the

most viable solution

• What is to be done, by who, when and how?



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Thinking – A Key to Effective Learning

“The best thing we can do, from the point of view of the brain and learning, is to teach our learners how to think.” (Jenson, 1996, p.163)

“Thought is the key to knowledge. Knowledge is discovered by thinking

analyzed by thinking, organized by thinking,

transformed by thinking, assessed by thinking,

and, most importantly, acquired by thinking.”

(Paul, 1993 vii)



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Key Facts about Thinking• Thinking is always in relation to thinking about

something• Thinking exists in a context of constraints (e.g.

emotions, beliefs, personality structure, memory limitations, etc)

• Thinking is a key component of effective human performance, but it is not the only important component



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Brain Barriers to Good Thinking

Habits of Perception Incoming information automatically passes through established neural networks – hence the brain will ensure that we perceive what we have learned to see.

Restricted Working Memory Despite having almost unlimited capacity for information – Working Memory can only deal with about 7±2 bits of information at once.

Slow Conscious Processing Speed The actual processing speed of the brain is slow compared to its capacity and organising ability.

Critical & Creative ThinkingCritical & Creative Thinking• What are these types of thinking?• What is good thinking?• How do we develop skill in thinking?



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A Model of Thinking



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Generating Possibilities

What do we do when wegenerate possibilities?

• Generate many possibilities • Generate different types of possibilities • Generate novel possibilities



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All creative products involve thecombining of old ideas or elementsin new ways

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One dark foggy night in Halifax, as Percy Shaw was driving home, he saw two small green lights, very close together near the edge of the road. He was curious so he stopped and saw the ‘lights’ were a pair of cats eyes reflecting the light from his head lights. Percy got back in the car full of ideas and subsequently invented a small deviceinvolving two marbles placed close together in a rubber casing; this would then be set in the road at intervals between the lanes of traffic.

After a year of experiments, Percy patented the invention and then, in 1935, formed his company, Reflecting Roadstuds Ltd. (That’s Innovation & Enterprise)

What is Creativity?A product or response will be judged creative to the extent that

it is novel, useful or a valuable response to the task at hand. (summarized from Amabile, 1996, p.35)

The Creative Process

Interest

Preparation (ongoing- may be years)

Incubation (best between periods of intense focused work and rest)

Illumination

VerificationApplication

Reframing & Creativity

“How your perceive something makes all the difference andyou are free to see things from any perspective you wish”

(Adler, 1996, p.145)

To shift to a different frame will typically reframe one’s perspective and therefore, one’s meaning. And when we do this, our very worldchanges, which changes the sensory experience, hence how we feel

Slimy Pond Life or

Tasty Dinner?

Comparison and Contrast

What do we do when we compare and contrast?

• Identify what is similar between things - objects/options/ideas, etc

• Identify what is different between things• Identify and consider what is important

about both the similarities and differences• Identify a range of situations when the

different features are applicable



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Analysis

What do we do when we analyse?

• Identify relationship of the parts to a whole in system /structure/model

• Identify functions of each part • Identify consequences to the whole, if a part was missing• Identify what collections of parts form important sub-systems

of the whole• Identify if and how certain parts have a synergetic effect



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Inference and Interpretation

What do we do when we make inferences and interpretations?

Meta-cognition

Comparison& Contrast

Inference &Interpretation

Evaluation


Analysis

• Identify intentions and assumptions in data

• Separate fact from opinion in data

• Identify key points, connections, and contradictions in data

• Make meaning of the data/information available

• Establish a best picture to make predictions



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Evaluation

What do we do when we

evaluate?

• Decide on what is to be evaluated

• Identify appropriate criteria from which evaluation can be made

• Prioritize the importance of the criteria

• Apply the criteria and make decision

Meta-cognition



Evaluation


Analysis



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Meta-cognition

What are we doing when we are meta-cognitive?

• Aware that we can think in an organized manner

• Actively thinking about the ways in which we are thinking

• Monitoring and evaluating how effective we are thinking

• Seeking to make more effective use of the different ways of thinking and any supporting learning/ thinking strategies /tools

Meta-cognition



Evaluation


Analysis



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• Being aware of one’s thinking, evaluating how well we are using the range of specific thinking skills, and taking necessary corrective action

Put simply, meta-cognition is


Thinking about your

thinking

Thinking about your

thinking

What assumptions did I made?

What assumptions did I made?

How can I spot an error if I make one?

Do I know

what do I need to know?

Do I know

what do I need to know?


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"Metacognitive skills include taking conscious control of learning, planning and selecting strategies, monitoring the progress of learning, correcting errors, analyzing the effectiveness of learning strategies, and changing learning behaviors and strategies when necessary."

(Ridley, D.S., Schutz, P.A., Glanz, R.S. & Weinstein, C.E., 1992)

Metacognition

i want good thinking on this this involves critical thinking – have i seen this problem before,...

Documents

types of thinking

sale sm cheah

brain barriers

key facts

important component

memory limitations

bits of information

actual processing speed