Elements of Critical Thinking

Transcription

1 Elements of Critical Thinking Prepared by: D. Anthony Miles, Ph.D. 1

2 Introduction Purpose of this presentation Objective: Improve critical thinking skills for business. Outcome: Create a community of business thinkers at Our Lady of the Lake University. 2

3 Agenda Level I: Knowledge Level 2: Comprehension Level 3: Application Level 4: Analysis Level 5: Synthesis Level 6: Evaluation 3

4 Level I: Knowledge Knowledge: present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas or quality of work based on a set of criteria. Understand the problem situation. Read the case Critical Thinking Skills Applied Know where and how to get information from the case. Determine the facts and evidence. 4

5 Level I: Knowledge Knowledge: present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas or quality of work based on a set of criteria. Choose Define Find Label Select Relate List Questions asked are: What is..? Where is.? How did happen? When did..? How would you show..? Who were the main? Which one..? 5

6 Level 2: Comprehension Comprehension: demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions and stating main ideas Identify business concepts embedded/illustrated in the case. Critical Thinking Skills Applied Recognize central thesis or arguments. Assemble information into one s own words. 6

7 Level 2: Comprehension Comprehension: demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions and stating main ideas. Classify Contrast Explain Outline Illustrate Summarize Infer Questions asked are: How would classify the type of? How would you compare? Will you state or interpret in your own words..? How would you rephrase the meaning? What facts or ideas show? What is the main idea of.? Which statements support..? 7

8 Level 3: Application Application: involves solving problems to new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way. Comprehend the effects of the business concepts within the case. Critical Thinking Skills Applied Identify cause and effect relationships. Assess relevance, truth, validity, and strength of information. 8

9 Level 3: Application Application: involves solving problems to new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way. Questions asked are: Apply Build Choose Construct Model Develop Select Organize How would you use? What example can you find to.? How would you solve using what you ve learned.? What approach would you use.? How would you apply what you learned to develop..? What elements would you choose to change? 9

10 Level 4: Analysis Analysis: examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalizations. Analyze the problem situation. Analyze and evaluate components of the situation and their interactions. Identify underlying facts and assumptions. Judge the effectiveness of business concepts in the situation. Critical Thinking Skills Applied Recognize stated and implied assumptions Identify cause and effect relationships. Assess strengths and weakness of options. 10

11 Level 4: Analysis Analysis: examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalizations. Questions asked are: Analyze Contrast Categorize Classify Compare Distinguish Examine Simplify Relationships What are the parts or features of..? What is the relationship between? How would you categorize? What evidence can you find..? Can you identify parts..? What ideas justify? What inference can you make..? 11

12 Level 5: Synthesis Synthesis: compile information together in a different way by combing elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions. Identify and evaluate alternatives. Identify other concepts to apply. Establish criteria to evaluate alternative solutions. Evaluate the impact and reasoning of alternatives. Critical Thinking Skills Applied Draw conclusions and evaluate the effectiveness and justification of the conclusion. Evaluate information from multiple perspectives. Create multiple options Determine the facts and evidence. Assess strengths and weaknesses of options 12

13 Level 5: Synthesis Synthesis: compile information together in a different way by combing elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions. Adapt Design Combine Compose Improve Predict Modify Questions asked are: What changes would make to solve..? How would you improve.? How would you adapt to create a different..? What way would you design..? How would you show..? What facts can you compile? Formulate Propose Can you construct a model that would change..? 13

14 Level 6: Evaluation Evaluation: present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas or quality of work based on a set of criteria. Evaluate how the alternative changed the case scenario Identify potential changes in the business environment that could affect the solution. Critical Thinking Skills Applied Identify cause and effect relationships. Evaluate information from multiple perspectives. Assess strengths and weaknesses of options. 14

15 Level 6: Evaluation Evaluation: present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas or quality of work based on a set of criteria. Agree Dispute Assess Conclude Criticize Justify Recommend Support Questions asked are: Do you agree with the actions..? What is your opinion of.? What would you recommend? What information can you use to support the view..? How would you prioritize the facts..? Based on what you know, how would you explain..? What data was used to make the conclusion..? 15

16 Elements of Critical Thinking Questions? Prepared by: D. Anthony Miles, Ph.D. 16

17 Elements of Critical Thinking Prepared by: D. Anthony Miles, Ph.D. 17