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Updated 2007-01-10
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Thinking with the Computer A course for learning English, computer skills and thinking styles Critical Thinking |
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I often introduce myself to new classes as "My name is Kevin Ryan. Do you know how to spell RYAN? It's like Meg Ryan , the famous actress. Did you know she is my cousin?" At that point the students that have good listening skills all say, "Ehhhhhhh!?" They have good listening skills but not very good Critical Thinking Skills, because they are not quite sure. Then I tell the students about my first name, "It is spelled K-E-V-I-N, just like Kevin Costner, the actor. He's my cousin, too." The students that listen well but are still not thinking, go, Ehhhhhh!?" again. The ones that have good thinking skill say, "yappari, uso da."
Critical Thinking is a search for the truth. It is a constant questioning, never believing, always skeptical. Look up that word in your dictionary. Skeptical. Skeptic. People from Missouri always wanted to be very sure of things, so it became known as the "Show me!" state. They didn't believe anything until they could see it for themselves.
There are some other good examples Critical Thinking in history. Look at the quote from Francis Bacon about thinking. He said that more than 400 years ago. While you are at Tim Van Gelder's site, look around there. He has lots of good information about Critical thinking.
About 2,500 years ago a philosopher named Socrates tried, through the art of conversation, to get to logical answers by asking questions, and looking at opposites, then trying to get an answer. This search for the opposites was called dialectic. Try to find out more at this site. About 150 years ago another philosopher named Hegel (from Germany) made these ideas clearer with the terms thesis, anti-thesis and synthesis.
Now go back to Tim Van Gelder's site and look at the TOP TEN. Look especially at 4, 3, 6 and 9.
Find 2 web sites that give opposite opinions. Evaluate each of the two to see which one is more truthful.
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Sample Homework Assignment Format
A good definition of Critical Thinking is at http://www.criticalthinking.net/SSConcCTApr3.html
A List of Links from Kevin about Critical Thinking
Instructions for the Final Project
© Kevin Ryan 2001 ryan@kevinryan.com Thinking with Computers course