Notes on ThinkingNotes on Thinking

Don’t just sit there…Don’t just sit there…

Think Something!Think Something!

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

Critical thinking refers to conscious Critical thinking refers to conscious application of contemplation and application of contemplation and deliberation. deliberation.

The essence of critical thinking is The essence of critical thinking is looking beyond the obvious.looking beyond the obvious.

VocabularyVocabulary

ConceptualizationConceptualization – – the process by the process by which one has ideas.which one has ideas.

Fluency of thoughtFluency of thought – – refers to the refers to the number of concepts one produces in a number of concepts one produces in a given length of time.given length of time.

Flexibility of thoughtFlexibility of thought – – refers to the refers to the diversity of the ideas generated.diversity of the ideas generated.

VocabularyVocabulary

ParadigmParadigm – – pattern for thinking; pattern for thinking; help help learning or become obsolete.learning or become obsolete.

Conceptual BlocksConceptual Blocks – – refers to mental refers to mental walls which block the problem-solver walls which block the problem-solver from correctly perceiving a problem or from correctly perceiving a problem or conceiving its solution.conceiving its solution.

Critical thinking involves Critical thinking involves four steps:four steps:

1. 1. AnalysisAnalysis – – break ideas into their break ideas into their component parts so that you can component parts so that you can consider them separately.consider them separately.

2.2. SynthesisSynthesis – – make connections among make connections among different ideas or components seeking different ideas or components seeking relationships and interactions with which relationships and interactions with which to tie them together.to tie them together.

Critical thinking involves Critical thinking involves four steps:four steps:

3.3. AssessmentAssessment – – examine the quality of examine the quality of the ideas for soundness of reasoning and the ideas for soundness of reasoning and logic.logic.

4.4. AssimilationAssimilation – – incorporate the ideas incorporate the ideas into personal knowledge base to produce into personal knowledge base to produce new and future thinking.new and future thinking.

Two main phases in the Two main phases in the development of new ideas:development of new ideas:

1.1. Imaginative phaseImaginative phase – – motto motto “Thinking something different”“Thinking something different”

Two main phases in the Two main phases in the development of new ideas:development of new ideas:

2.2. Practical phasePractical phase – motto – motto “Getting “Getting something done”something done”

Types of Conceptual Types of Conceptual Blocks:Blocks:

1.1. Perceptual BlockPerceptual Block – difficulty in – difficulty in comprehending the problem or situation.comprehending the problem or situation. difficulty in isolating the problemdifficulty in isolating the problem tendency to limit the problem area too tendency to limit the problem area too

closelyclosely inability to see the problem from various inability to see the problem from various

viewpointsviewpoints seeing what you expect to see;seeing what you expect to see; stereotypingstereotyping saturation:saturation: familiarity breeds blindnessfamiliarity breeds blindness failure to utilize all sensory inputsfailure to utilize all sensory inputs

Types of Conceptual Types of Conceptual Blocks:Blocks:

2.2. Cultural and Environmental BlocksCultural and Environmental Blocks – – “learned” responses which block ideas.“learned” responses which block ideas. cultural taboos:cultural taboos: permission/prohibitionpermission/prohibition social stigma:social stigma: daydreaming “bad”/logic “good”daydreaming “bad”/logic “good” distractions:distractions: clutter/people/obligationsclutter/people/obligations competition:competition: boss/coworkers/partners/peersboss/coworkers/partners/peers sabotage or lack of support:sabotage or lack of support: people/money/timepeople/money/time

Types of Conceptual Types of Conceptual Blocks:Blocks:

3.3. Emotional BlocksEmotional Blocks – ideas limited by – ideas limited by feelings.feelings. fear of taking a risk;fear of taking a risk; what are your catastrophic what are your catastrophic

expectations?expectations? no appetite for chaosno appetite for chaos judging rather than generating ideas:judging rather than generating ideas: “Bad-mouthing “Bad-mouthing

everyone else’s concepts is in fact a cheap way to everyone else’s concepts is in fact a cheap way to attempt to demonstrate your own mental attempt to demonstrate your own mental superiority.”superiority.”

inability to incubateinability to incubate lack of challenge;lack of challenge; problem fails to engage interestproblem fails to engage interest excessive zeal;excessive zeal; over-motivation to succeed quicklyover-motivation to succeed quickly

Brain-PowerBrain-Power

Think by Choice,Think by Choice,

not by Chance!not by Chance!