Shift into Critical Thinking

Critical thinking needs to be placed at the heart of educational reform. (Paul and Binker, 1990). What is critical thinking? Critical thinking is the ability to be in control of one’s thinking. “It includes the ability to consciously examine the elements of one’s reasoning, or that of another, and evaluate that reasoning against universal intellectual standards: clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, and logic”
(Eichhorn, 2006). One way teachers can foster critically thinking skills is with online tools and discussions (Macknight, 2001).

Binker, R. (1990). Critical thinking: what every person needs to survive in a rapidly changing world.. Rohnert Park, CA. Center for Critical Thinking and Moral Critique, Sonoma State University.

Eichhorn, R. (2006, April 17). Developing thinking skills: critical thinking at the army management staff college. Retrieved fromhttp://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/critical/roy.htm

MacKnight, C. (2000, November 4). Teaching critical thinking through online discssions . Educause Quarterly, Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EQM0048.pdf