Feature


will be able to gather information and gain a better insight and a deeper understanding t ah tat W  a fit  hht t hh  h us to develop greater insights into our own biases and areas for improvement.


4. Probe and question In order to peel back the layers and discover more information about any situation it is important to be inquisitive. Open questions can help us to delve further and here are a few examples of good critical thinking questions to ask: •What does this mean? •What is being explained? •How can I explain it? •How can I solve this problem? •What more do I need to know? •Where did the information come from? •How solid is the reasoning? • How can this reasoning be made stronger or weaker?


•What other potential options are there?


C ritical thinking means questioning long- established practices and refusing to accept traditional approaches simply because ‘ that’ s the way it’ s always been done’


Here are my top 5 tips on how to develop the essential skills of critical thinking:


1. Be willing to challenge Critical thinking may well mean questioning long-established practices and refusing to accept traditional approaches simply because ‘that’s the way it’s always been done’. Even though our willingness to challenge may seem controversial to some, it is an essential part of the creative and innovative mindset of a successful critical thinker. As Albert Einstein said: We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.


2. Be analytical Analysing is about breaking information down into component parts and evaluating how well those parts function both together and separately. Analytical thinking begins with objectivity and relies on observation, gathering and evaluating evidence so we can arrive at a better-informed and more meaningful conclusion.


3. Observe well Observation is one of the earliest critical thinking skills that we learn and is about our ability to perceive and understand the world around us. When we are fully present and carefully observe and document details, we


5. Take time to think One way to gain a better perspective of a situation is to take some time to consider what is really going on. Very often we may feel that we are being pushed into making a decision or coming up with a conclusion tht ha ha fit t t a critical thinking. Sometimes we may need to push back and create the time and space to think.


In summary One last thing to bear in mind is that being an effective critical thinker means keeping our emotions in check and approaching things in a calm and measured way. If we are overtired, highly stressed or upset at th t    fit t apply cool logic. If we feel we are getting emotional or


stressed, it is important to relax and focus on our wellbeing so we can regain our composure before we continue to apply our critical thinking.n


Liggy Webb presents ‘Leading Resilience’ in Theatre 3, at 12:45 Tuesday 8 October


Learning Magazine | 15


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