Characteristics of a Critical Thinker | Origin: ED116
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Critical Thinking Processes and Applications --> Characteristics of a Critical Thinker
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
"Students need to be able to formulate and articulate their concepts and ideas. This way they can get the input of others as to whether their proposed solutions have merit, need continued development, or are off course" - I have a couple of students who are really quiet / on the shy side. This statement struck me and I may find a way to work this into a discussion I have with them :)
Guide reasoning is key concept!
I learned that a critical thinker is open-minded, curious, and willing to look at all sides of an issue before forming a judgment. They stay objective, ask thoughtful questions, and base their conclusions on evidence rather than assumptions or emotions. Critical thinkers also stay calm under pressure and are willing to admit when they’re wrong or need more information. I plan to apply this by practicing active listening, taking time to analyze situations before responding, and encouraging others to think things through instead of jumping to conclusions.
there are 10 characteristics of critical thinking: analytical, open-minded, curious, reflective, logical and reasoned, problem-solving oriented, effective communicator, self-directed, skeptical but fair, and responsible and ethical.
It is essential to assist students to develop critical thinking skills.
The major concept that I gained from this section was that judgement is an important thing to have. Rushed decisions will lead to bad choices and outcomes. It is important to have all the facts in order to think critically, which goes back to the original point of asking questions. Without proper critical thinking, you make poor decisions that can impact your life and your learning.
Critical thinking is an important skill in everyday life, but especially in those that have to make life a death decisions at any moment. We can't just accept information at face value, we have to have a thoughtful, systematic, and questioning approach to comprehending and interpreting the information and situations.
This module helps me understand why some students are not able to critically think and how to evaluate their critical thinking skills. It is so important to enhance this skills among all our students because of the great responsibility of the nursing profession.
By encouraging discipline to the students and by asking questions and listening to their responses we as educators will be able to gauge their understanding of the concepts being presented.
Through exploring the characteristics of a critical thinker, I’ve learned that critical thinkers are curious, open-minded, analytical, and reflective. They question assumptions rather than accepting information at face value. They seek evidence, evaluate sources carefully, and are willing to revise their views based on new information. Importantly, they communicate their reasoning clearly and consider alternative perspectives before making decisions.
As a critical thinker, especially in the field of healthcare, one must be mindful of the decisions or judgment calls one makes as these can have profound consequences on the ones impacted, and therefore, requires the thinker to be astute in their reasoning. The use of questioning must be encouraged so as to arrive at the most accurate decision.
Characteristics of critical thinkers include open mindedness, active listening, and analysis with problem solving strategies. It is a process that can be developed over time.
Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck. This module expanded those criteria to include breath oxygen (a mechanical duck doesn't need oxygen) and flap it's wings (a duck without wings is not a duck, apparently) and must be a good swimmer (an average swimmer misses the mark as a duck, I guess).
Risk must be allowed for critical thinking skills to be developed.
What I have learned: Questions students ask when listening to a lecture; how discipline and judgment come into play with critical thinking; asking the right questions to generate critical thinking; using case studies to increase problem solving; add critical thinking questions to assessments; practice critical thinking and problem solving in the classroom before moving to an assessment.
Questioning students is an essential tool an instructor can use to develop the critical thinking skills of their students.
I think in this day and age and in our current environment, it would be best for all of us, even students, to ask questions before making decisions. We should be extremely skeptical when someone tries to tell us how to live, what to do, what to buy, what to believe, etc. Every person involved has an agenda that may be completely opposite to ours. The best recent example was the response to the C19 pandemic. Different parties had different agendas from making billions of dollars to controlling how others lived. In other words, health was not the sole consideration.
For our world to survive, we must teach our students about reasoning, discipline, questioning, and judgment. If we do not help our students develop the ability to question the world around them, they will simply learn to parrot the answers of those who hold the most influence over them.
To be a critical thinker you must ask questions of the world/ situation around you. Education takes discipline and courage to get through. Critical thinking is a skill that is developed over time.
Discipline is an important concept in learning and critical thinking, I agree the students need to learn to do their part in learning. I apply interventions during my classes that encourage students to apply their own ideas and create solutions.
