Undoubtedly you must have heard the expression "critical thinking" a half million dozen times since you started college. In theory, this is what WE (the teachers) are striving for: providing you with the tools to engage in critical thinking.
1) Do you have a clear understanding of what the expression mean?
-- My way to explain is that critical thinking is "knowledge." And the way I define knowledge is: "the meaning of information."
One cannot have knowledge without information. If I don't know anything about building damns, if I don' t know how they are put together, I will never be able to possess knowledge about the finished product, nor to express my opinion on whether the finished product is a good job or a bad job.
2) Do you have "knowledge" of a subject? For instance (seriously): computer games, hip hop music, shooting film, shooting hoops, judging special effects in a movie, writing poetry, playing an instrument, the best ice cream or pizza in town, making brownies (funny or boring), fashion, dogs, singing.
When you are "into something" you normally have knowledge of it (not just "about it.")
COMMENT (respond) in separate paragraphs to 1) and 2). And REPLY to the best comment.
Critical thinking is a term that I have heard many of times during my education experience. To me this term means, to think with a clear mind and stay focused about a specific topic. Not everyone understands the term critical thinking and it is very complex based on the individual pursuing the trait.
ReplyDeleteDepending on the individual, depends on the subject they are well aware of. Children today are very aware of everything especially technology and singing. One topic I am knowledgeable about is child's rights and children with disabilities.
Critical thinking to me is when you are knowledgeable about something. But not only knowing about it, you must understand it and form sound solutions or sides to an issue or activity. Take something like homelessness, people know what that is but they may not understand what it means, why people are homeless, why they stay homeless and the struggles they face. Critical thinking is being able to understand problems and form solutions. Knowing what homelessness is, is different when you are not homeless. It is thinking about things form someone else’s view. Taking in all perspectives and not only your own.
ReplyDeleteBefore one can write a paper on a topic they must first understand what the topic is. They must stop and think with a clear mind. The definition you used "critical thinking is being able to understand problems and form solutions," is a great way to describe this term.
DeleteCritical thinking is the evaluation. When person gives importance to something and try to completely understand it. When we try to make sense of something and being precautious about it too. Basically, we are trying to learn and understand. Critical thinking is when we do not take something for granted and we want to find the meaning of it. For example in college courses we are constantly involved in critical thinking. We try to look at things from different perspectives. I have gained knowledge of different medical testings such as CTs, MRIs, and etc.
ReplyDeleteCritical thinking to me is further analyzing what you already know to find a deeper meaning. For example, we know that Italians were lynched by many Americans in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Answering and figuring out why they were lynched would be critical thinking. Trying to understand things from different standpoints is critical thinking.
ReplyDeleteI have knowledge of nutrition and healthy eating. I also have knowledge of cooking and substituting certain dishes to make them healthier.
I don't know whether or not knowing "why" certain Italians were lynched would count as critical thinking necessarily. That would have to come from a fact, and the accumulation of facts is not necessarily critical thinking. It's more piecing it together, like how could the Italians be lynched and how could people get away with it in so-called civilized society?
DeleteFurthermore, I would love to know more about nutrition and substituting dishes for the sake of my health, because I am terrible at it as is.
Critical thinking to me is when, for example, we are given a box. Thinking would give us the result that this, in front of us, is a box. Critical thinking would give us the result that this is in fact a box, but depending on how big it is, here is what could be inside it: ...
ReplyDeleteCritical thinking is when we are efficient with our thoughts and information.
The subjects in which I have knowledge are playing guitar. Before I started, I would only listen to it when someone played the guitar in front of me. Now that I myself learned how to, when someone plays a guitar in front of me, I look at their hands. I look at the fretboard, the chords their using, etc. I look at the kind of guitar, the brand, the kind of strings.
Your comments on critical thinking are spot on. Not only is it our ability to identify and categories, but our ability to extrapolate the information present with our own knowledge and personal experience.
DeleteWhen I was first learning the drums I became obsessed with Keith Moon. Not because he was technically proficient but because he was absolutely wild when it came to playing the drums. As you said I watched his style and technique and listen to his place in the song differently once I had begun learning about the skill. I was thinking critically about drumming then and still do to this day. If you see a white boy air-drumming like a fool in the subway, it could be me.
I like the comparison of critical thinking to having a box. Critical thinking is like going outside the box and digging deeper than just the facts given in front of you.
DeleteI like the box comparison you used I didn't think of it that way when I first read the directions. Well said in your statements.
DeleteThe term critical thinking is one I've heard many times throughout my school years. Most questions would say, “use critical thinking to answer this question.” This term means that the answer has to be more than just a clear cut, straight forward answer. You have to use the information you already know on the subject formulate a solution to the question. Critical thinking is knowing about a topic in depth.
ReplyDeleteOne subject I have a lot of knowledge about is dance. I began dancing since the age of three and I continued until the age of 18. I went to Laguardia High School for dance and I also danced competitively for several years. I learned how to do multiple styles of dance from ballet to hip hop. I also learned the technique behind each style and over the years I have used what I learned to improve my dancing. This allowed me to not just know about dancing, but to have knowledge of it.
I understand critical thinking in similarly. Critical thinking is more than just knowing the answers. It involves going in depth and understanding something clearly.
DeleteCritical thinking is a way to analyze and process information. I think that when you are able to begin to take information and evaluate it until you have come to a point of comprehension is when thinking becomes critical thinking.
ReplyDeleteOne subject I have a lot of knowledge is music. I am an opera singer, my mother is a concert violinist, my sister is a classical guitarist and we all play piano as well. I've grown up listening and loving all types of music and felt as though that immersion gave me superior knowledge and skills when I decided to go to college and pursue a degree in it.
It's very cool that you're an opera singer. I think that to be able to work with music is something that needs a lot of learning and understanding. There are so many concepts to learn and to see that you've pursued a major in music shows that you have a lot of knowledge and that you love what you do.
DeleteI agree with your definition. You can like something but when you become immersed critical thinking is activated. Critical thinking is opening your mind to an entity and allowing it to become a part of you.
DeleteCritical thinking, I believe, is when one is able to (or is rightfully able to attempt to) figure out the processes and intricacies of how something works or the implications or nuances of something. Contrast this with regular thinking, which is more or less observation on a basic level. Experiencing a film by watching and enjoying.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think I'm knowledgeable in film and about filmmaking. I am a film major, but beforehand I always loved to watch all sorts of movies and analyze them for their themes and to read up about the reception a film had, especially if it was from a foreign country.
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ReplyDeleteYes I know what Critical Thinking is. Critical thinking occurs when you utilize both found and experienced knowledge to make a decision or judgment about something. It is in a way seeing the many parts that make up a whole and how they interact with each other. Through critical thinking you can not only reach decisions but change outcomes and reach new conclusions or ideas. Critical thinking isn't simply for seeking answers but also for asking questions.
ReplyDeleteI have extensive knowledge in the fields of film production and percussive instruments. These two passions of mine helped to developed each other as I critically thought out my art. My initial studies with drumming and percussion drove me towards Filmmaking. Together my bandmates and I would think through music video conceptualization and fulfillment. One could say that through critically thinking about my music and what sounds my band was producing I was already critically thinking about shots and what emotions I wanted to convey to my audience. When using critical thinking it is important to not only seek to answer questions but to ask more as well. I find this leads me to the discovery of connections I had not previously detected or known.
Then your film of choice *must* be "Whiplash" (too bad the plot was a bit predictable.)
DeleteCritical thinking to me is being able to show and express that you understand what is being presented to you. It is a task which needs to be acknowledged and examined to be able to get the most out it. Everything that happens in a person's life needs critical thinking whether it's learning to ride a bike or learning to play an instrument, critical thinking is needed to learn and understand how to do something.
ReplyDeleteI have knowledge in playing soccer. I have been playing my whole life and it is something that I grew up with. My whole family plays so when I was younger I began to learn and gain more knowledge on the sport. Now I can teach that knowledge to younger kids through coaching.
Critical thinking is trying to understand the building blocks of a specialty. It is to dissect certain ideas and put it in different environments in order to promote awareness of problems and solutions this subject could bring. An example,reading a simple text message. You could think about a text message very critically. It affects interpretation and response. If someone is so reply with a "K" after you sent a heart felt message, you could infer that they were trying to disrespect you, or you could take into account their texting habits and how they converse and you might interpret their response differently.
ReplyDeleteI take poetry very seriously, therefore I submerge myself into the ethics, ideas and styles of various poets. I use their examples to help me understand different texts and interpretation. Knowing about something is different than submerging yourself into it and trying to live within the background of it.
That's a good way at looking at something so subjective as a text message. My struggle with texting is things get so easily taken out of context; you can't sense the tone when sending them. I don't really take into account how sarcastic people can come off in simply replying "K." From reading your comment, I am fully aware of it now and I'll try to be more sensitive and not seem so passive with my responses.
Delete"Critical thinking" means to analyze, at times requiring more than once, and interpreting that information for myself so that I am able to deliver its meaning in a clear/concise manner. Educating yourself is the primary factor of growth, but expressing that interpretation for yourself is half the battle too. Looking back at your ideas, or "finished product", gives a great sense of accomplishment when you know that you have full understanding of that subject/situation.
ReplyDeleteI have a vast knowledge for movies. I love them, and I have an extensive catalog of movies that I can interpret for hours on end. It may seem trivial, but one of the happiest times I have is when I'm watching one.
My understanding of the expression critical thinking is to really understand the message or concept of what is being taught. You have to fully grasp the idea and topic that is being introduced.
ReplyDeleteWhen you are really into something, you spend a lot of time expanding your knowledge about that particular thing. You do research, you learn all that is to learn about it or most of it so you know to engaged a conversation about it or on it.
Critical thinking is you expanding your answer. Turning your straight forward answer into something larger that's supported with detail. In other words, the ability to fully explain an element from different aspects.
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