COURSE OVERVIEW:

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas. Critical thinking has been the subject of much debate and thought since the time of early Greek philosophers such as Plato and Socrates and has continued to be a subject of discussion into the modern age.

Critical thinking might be described as the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking. In essence, critical thinking requires you to use your ability to reason. It is about being an active learner rather than a passive recipient of information.

Critical thinkers rigorously question ideas and assumptions rather than accepting them at face value. They will always seek to determine whether the ideas, arguments and findings represent the entire picture and are open to finding that they do not. Critical thinkers will identify, analyse and solve problems systematically rather than by intuition or instinct.

A critical thinker has an easier life. They think about the questions before deciding on their answers. The right answer is a lot easier to accept when it finally shows up if you haven’t already made a decision.

Critical thinking is thinking about things in certain ways so as to arrive at the best possible solution in the circumstances that the thinker is aware of. In more everyday language, it is a way of thinking about whatever is presently occupying your mind so that you come to the best possible conclusion.

Critical thinking is also a method for dealing with the information overload we have today. You just let the data come in and apply critical thinking principles to determine its value.

This course will help you learn how reasoning by logic improves effective problem solving and provides you with the tools to think smarter, level up intuition to reach your potential and grow your mindfulness.

The first part of this course begins by explaining what critical thinking is. Then explores the core critical thinking skills. Then discusses the types of intelligent thinking: convergent and divergent thinking. Then examines the steps and habits in the critical thinking process.

The second part begins by explaining how to get better at decision making using your critical thinking skills. Then looks at mental exercises to develop your critical thinking skills. Then discusses different powerful strategies to improve critical thinking. Finally, explains how to use questioning in critical thinking.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

• Why improve our thinking?
• How to evaluate your thinking?
• What is critical thinking?
• The core critical thinking skills
• How to detect and decode arguments?
• How to analyse any arguments that are decoded?
• How to propose and defend your explanation clearly?
• How to present well-reasoned arguments in context?
• The types of intelligent thinking
• The difference between convergent and divergent thinking
• The steps and habits in the critical thinking process
• How to get better at decision making?
• The first steps to better decision making
• The methods for improving your skills in making decisions
• The pros and cons of heuristics
• The risks of ineffective decision making and problem solving
• How to be a better decision-maker?
• The importance of knowing mental tendencies
• The different exercises to develop your critical thinking skills
• The powerful strategies to improve critical thinking
• Why deal with one problem at a time?
• Why always question assumptions?
• Why acknowledge the influence of groups?
• How to practice asking critical questions?
• How to get verifiable evidence?
• Why be aware of your mental processes?
• How to form your own opinions?
• How to do proper analysis and reasonable interpretation?
• How to confirm information veracity and be innovative?
• How to diversify and have an open mind?
• How to resist impulsiveness and eliminate ambiguity?
• How to eliminate negative talk and improve listening skills?
• How to develop intellectual humility?
• How to stay self-aware of your thought processes?
• How to use questioning in critical thinking?
• The general benefits of asking questions
• How to design questions to enhance critical thinking?
• The dos and don’ts in creating questions
• How to design appropriate questions for critical thinking?
• How to ask questions that court knowledge?
• How to design questions to attract informative response?
• How to create questions that enable comprehension?
• How to tailor comprehension questions?
• How to build questions that help with the actual application of knowledge?
• How to design questions that are likely to enhance analysis?
• What you achieve by breaking down your general information?
• How to create queries that seek to evaluate?
• How you can frame evaluation questions?
• How to design questions that are specifically geared towards aiding in synthesis?
• How to design synthesis related queries?
• The different types of questions
• The logic behind critical thinking

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.