Each of us encounters new facts and opinions. We present ideas that we can find in books, newspapers or even in the internet. Hence, critical thinking is very significant skill to extend our understanding, find answers, foster generalizations and create new knowledge. Thinking skill for facing problems and decisions require courage and integrity more than intelligence. The courage to think for oneself requires lifelong commitment.
What are some characteristics of being the ideal critical thinker? He is habitually inquisitive, trustful of reason, flexible and honest in facing personal biases. He is well – informed, open – minded, fair – minded in evaluation and prudent in making adjustment. He is orderly in complex matters, reasonable in selection of activities, clear about issues, diligent in seeking relevant information, focused in inquiry and persistent in seeking results.
Critical thinking consists of skills and proficiencies on one hand and dispositions and tendencies on the other. The effective teacher asks for the consequences of each choice. Thus, students think and simultaneously develop attitudes, tendencies and dispositions which relate to the decisions they make.
Critical thinking is responsible thinking that facilitates good judgment because it is based and relies on criteria and is therefore self – correcting and sensitive to context.
Research shows that students use enough waiting time to think over questions in order to rationalize the “why”of a theory, concept or a principle, or the how of a problem or of situations that need resolution. Rapid – fire questioning does not provoke critical thinking but merely evokes routine responses. Thought – provoking questions, on the other hand, arouses the desire to find out reasons for one’s being, to discover how to unravel a problematic solution and importantly, to be able to think of new ideas through the process of self – discovery.
Critical thinking enhances learning at all levels. This strongly justifies the shift of emphasis from mere “learning” to “thinking”. Students should think for themselves. They must not merely think but more importantly make judgments. Good judgment is considered an accurate interpretation of the printed page, the clear comprehension heard and the ability to grasp suggestions.
Developing critical thinking in students is intellectual empowerment. Students gain the capability of making decisions- producing ideas and capable of making decisions by themselves, producing ideas and innovating new ways of doing things, getting involved in the resolution of problems and issues that affect the nation and thinking of viable means which they can help raise the quality of human life in their communities.
By: Ryan Jake F. Bariacto | Teacher III | Mariveles National High School – Poblacion | Mariveles, Bataan
