Critical Thinking Tools

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Course Description
Critical thinking is the careful and thorough evaluation of information using a variety of tools, including decision making and problem-solving processes, criteria matrices, statistics, and others. This course introduces participants to key critical thinking tools and provides them with guidelines, so they can choose the right tools for each situation. Course activities include cases, games, short lectures, and individual and small group exercises and discussions. The focus throughout the course is on application to situations that participants regularly encounter at work.

Course Objectives

* Identify and adopt the characteristics of an effective critical thinker

* Recognize and avoid critical thinking barriers, including biases and faulty logic.
• Examine a situation from multiple perspectives. Identify the issue and collect information.
• Explore the issue. Interpret information and uncover assumptions. Distinguish between fact and opinion.
• Evaluate information accurately and thoroughly. Assess assumptions, reasoning, and all available information. Reach a conclusion.

Course Length: 1 day

Course Outline

I. . Introduction
A. What is critical thinking?
B. What are the key characteristics of a critical thinker?
• Open-mindedness – The Koosh Game
• Curiosity
• Awareness
• Flexibility
• Common Sense

II. Barriers to Critical Thinking
• Rationalization
• Emotional thinking and language
• Biases
• Faulty logic
• Tunnel vision
• Statistical confusion/Mathematical errors

III. Tools for Thinking Critically – How to overcome barriers
• Situation Analysis
• Thoughtful and rigorous questioning
Game: Developing an Open Mind
• Accurate and thorough information gathering
• Logical precision
• Mathematical analysis

IV. Critical Thinking Skills and Processes
A. Examine
1. Identify the issue or problem
2. Collect information
B. Explore
1. Interpret Information
• Fact or Opinion?
• Clarify Numbers
2. Uncover Assumptions
3. Generate Alternate Explanations
C. Evaluate
1. Assess explanations or solutions
2. Reach a conclusion

V. Critical Thinking Practice

VI. Summary/Action Planning/Next Steps

VII. Job Aid – Critical Thinking Step-by-Step

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