Structures of Critical Thinking

When posting my initial thoughts on critical thinking I did not intend for it to be part of a larger three-part series. However, as I mentioned in my first post, it is a huge and important topic and I believe the manifestation of this blog reflects that. There is another really interesting piece developed by the Foundations for Critical Thinking which I felt did not fit within the other posts. It is a critical thinking tool, of sorts. You start with a concept and apply the different aspects of the tool.

The logic tool is available at: http://www.criticalthinking.org/ctmodel/logic-model1.htm#

I found this tool very useful for assessing our last assignment, but it could be applied to any situation which requires critical thinking. You move your mouse around the wheel and it presents you with different considerations for each aspect of the problem or topic you are assessing. Personally, I like to start with Point of View and move clockwise around the circle. Each pie gives you a series of questions. Eventually, these questions become second nature whenever tackling a new problem - which is a great outcome for any tool!

"Everyone thinks; it is our nature to do so. But much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed, or downright prejudiced. Yet the quality of our life and of what we produce, make, or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought. Shoddy thinking is costly, both in money and in quality of life. If you want to think well, you must understand at least the rudiments of thought, the most basic structures out of which all thinking is made. You must learn how to take thinking apart."
Critical Thinking Community
form Critical Thinking: Where to begin