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Your enormous reply: What is critical thinking? How do the two speakers define it? Why, according to the speakers, is it important? Do you agree? Why or why not?
Replies to classmates: Respond to at least two of your classmates. Some ideas: Do you agree with your classmates? Why or why not? Do you have any questions?
48 thoughts on “Discussion Board Post 1: What is critical thinking?”
Richard Paul defines Critical Thinking as an art expression. He believes that everyone can learn it by analyzing, using imagination and improving quality of this two things. By changing perspective of thinking, analyzing and evaluating we can find different perspectives and that’s what critical thinking is. The other speaker Jesse Richardson describes critical thinking as a design that “solves the problems”. He talks about educational system, that is NOT designed how to think or be creative. In his opinion teaching critical thinking should be engaging, because there isn’t always one good answer. He states that the fundamental thing in critical thinking is to think critically but also creatively. To both speakers critical thinking is important. Personally I do agree with them. As I was raised in Poland, and the educational system is not nearly comparable to the USA one, and there is no such thing as thinking creatively I personally do struggle with that and I hope this class will help me improve my thinking and allow me to expend my perspectives.
Hello Aneta, I also agree with Jesse Richardson’s take on thinking creatively. We live in a big world where we can seek inspiration, especially in a city such as New York. Having a variety of options broadens your perspectives, as you said, which can lead to a multitude of ways of one looking at a problem.
Hello Aneta, I do agree with what you said in regards to critical thinking and how both videos define it. I think that critical thinking is part of the learning process in how we see things in the world. We always have to stop and wonder how something became to be and we must think further.
I agree with “teaching critical thinking should be engaging, because there isn’t always one good answer.” Everyone can have different type of answer then everybody else because as you said critical thinking should be engaging not just a simply minded answer there should be a variety of thoughts.
Hello Aneta, I also agree with both speakers. I am also looking forward to this class helping me learn how to critically think and teach me about the many skills that critical thinking requires. I believe that both speakers had their own valid definitions with their own good point of views, their definitions had a connection too.
Hey Aneta, I certainly agree with the idea that the educational system where you were raised isn’t nearly as comparable to the US because same for me except I am from Jamaica. You hit all the main points by both speakers Mr. Paul’s belief that critical thinking is more of an “art” as he described it, as well as Jesse’s more in depth beliefs that critical thinking is a design in which solves the problem..
Hi Aneta, I also agree with Richardson’s claim of the educational system not being designed to teach students how to think or be creative. Instead, we see the educational system avoid giving students the opportunity to engage and analyze their surroundings and even punish students for forming their own sense of imagination and thought process.
Hello Aneta I agree with Jesse on how he said that the education system is not made to make us think or be creative. The education system at most to let us be creative is having elementary students take classes like art. Then in high school everyone just learns the same facts and no one really cares either about what happened or why, everyone just wants to know what is going to be on the quiz/test since that is what’s going to determine their grade which is more important to students rather than thinking or being creative.
I definitely agree with you on this one, most educational systems aren’t created with the intention to allow students to think independently while being creative, innovative, and critical. Instead, they diffuse such ideas and stick to one end.
After watching the “What is Critical Thinking, A definition”, video by Gary Meegan, critical thinking according to Dr. Richard Paul is, the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it. It is an important art because we simply can’t get anywhere without thinking. How did early civilizations and people solve problems they came across? They simply analyzed and evaluated situations and came up with a solution, just like Dr. Paul said in the video. Most people think differently so each person may have a different solution to a single problem. Good or bad, people are unique in their way of thinking. The same thing can be said about artists as well.
Hi Arif, I totally agree with you when you said “most people think differently so each person may have a different solution to a single problem”. This is extremely true as no one in the world thinks the same. People are unique in a way in solving an issue. We have to think before we do things.
Hi Arif,
I agree that everyone have their own solution to a single problem. Using critical thinking, sometimes you can combine everyones solution in order to create an even better and stronger one.
Hey Arif,
I agree with you that most people think differently, therefore, may have a different solution to the same problem. People differ widely in their congenital abilities and many people see things differently due to the concept of creativity. I would like to add critical thinking is a vital skill that is often neglected and should be taught at a young age because it encourages curiosity and creativity.
Hello Arif I agree with how we can’t get anywhere without thinking. Everyday every little action we do is dictated by what we think, whether it be what we want to eat or what to show to watch. I also agree with how people think differently as if everyone had the same thought process, then we would not be where we are as a species.
Hi Arif! I do agree with you that we can’t get anywhere without thinking. And I like how you include solving problems in early civilizations.
Hi Arif, I also agree with you when you said “most people think differently so each person may have a different solution to a single problem”. but, also as Gary Meegan said “Can we trust or rely on everyone’s thinking?” Yes, everyone thinks differently so we all have different solutions, but we cannot always depend on everyone to find critical and logical solutions that involve the coherent interest of everyone. Thank you and nice work.
Critical thinking is a way of analyzing a situation that can be in a form of problem-solving, identifying the issue, making a decision, and understanding the knowledge that is given. I think that the two speakers have their own take on the definition of critical thinking and there is no wrong answer. The first video is short and goes straight to the point. The way the first video defines critical thinking is that it basically requires the skill to analyze what you see and critique it. The video also suggests looking for clues as you go through the analysis process. The second video on the other hand goes in-depth into the definition of critical thinking. The guy in the video says that young children must analyze and be self-aware of their own thinking. They must question their own thinking rather than trying to memorize something as Mr. Rdson had mentioned. “Instead of just telling them to memorize the right answer, we-re asking them to engage their own minds, their own awareness, by questioning things, attaining understanding, not just knowledge” (Richardson 2:25 – 2:34). Both of them said that critical thinking is important because people will be able to understand others and how we should think. It will also allow us to become more problem solvers when we engage in thinking critically. Furthermore, I do agree with this because thinking critically helps make life easier.
I agree with everything you said especially with the last part quoted in your response. you typed “Instead of just telling them to memorize the right answer, we-re asking them to engage their own minds, their own awareness, by questioning things, attaining understanding, not just knowledge” is the same quote that stuck to me as well because that quote felt very inspiring and I feel that if anyone read this quote they will understand it too.
Hello Nicholas, I also agree that critical thinking helps us understand the knowledge that we are given and that critically thinking can help to make life easier. I also agree that attaining understanding and not just knowledge helps to engage one’s mind and one’s self-awareness. Learning how to think seems more productive than learning what to think.
Hi Nicolas!
You mentioned an interesting part about how Critical thinking plays its logical role between memorizing and analyzing—proving how we understand a topic depending on how we’re able to defend it. One incontestable thing is that only justifying answers with clear evidence identify our level of understanding of the subjects.
Hey Nicholas,
I agree with you that thinking critically helps make life easier. This is because critical thinking will help you articulate your views, ideas, and opinions more clearly. Others will be able to understand you better if you effectively communicate. Furthermore, critical thinking will prevent you from making a rushed judgment and will help prevent you from making a decision too quickly. With critical thinking, you will be able to make decisions and solve problems with logic and reasoning.
Hi Nicholas, I agree with your statement that there is no wrong answer when it comes to defining critical thinking because it can vary depending on the person and how they view the process of forming advanced thinking or problem solving. I also agree with how critical thinking makes life easier as it does help us in complicated situations and allows us to make the right decisions.
Hello Nicholas
You gave a strong definition for critical thinking. You also analyze the two videos and how they are connected to the topic. people differ widely in their congenital abilities and many people see things differently due to the concept of creativity. Also, critical thinking is a vital skill that is often forgotten and should be taught at a young age because it encourages curiosity and creativity. I totally agree with you that making better decisions makes life easier.
Hi Nicholas! I also think that children should be taught how to think and not only learn ‘one correct answer’. And by doing this in the future we would have generations prepared to think critically and solve various problems.
Hi Nicholas, Your analysis of critical thinking is right on point. As you stated there’s no right or wrong way in thinking critically.
Critical thinking is a way that our brains thinks and analyze anything throughout the world. An art that evaluates any problems, decision making, curious thoughts and knowledge of understanding. After viewing both speakers, the first speaker Gary gave me a straight forward explanation about the way critical thinking works and listed in them in order for analyzing being first, evaluating is second and thinking being last. The second speaker Jesse, gave a full detailed presentation on how to think, not what to think. Through my understanding of his presentation he telling us that in our society we enforce the contents of any subject on to every students without teaching them why this subject is important for them. We just say that you need to learn this and don’t have a choice really and it doesn’t spark any type of curiosity to them. But as Jesse said “instead of just telling them to memorize the right answer we’re are asking them to engage their own minds, their own awareness by questioning things and attaining understanding not just knowledge” In my opinion is very true because it’s a spark of curiosity being brought to life in the kids. I would say it’s important because it’s a way on how we learn in this world. I agree with both of them in every way they explained in their own video.
Hello Alex, that quote was a great one in the video, informing people to memorize the right answer doesn’t educate them on why that is the correct answers or if there is multiple ways to come up with that same solution. If their is nothing to question or be curious about are we really even using our brains?
I would define critical thinking as a thought process that helps people find a solution to difficult situations and that helps people make difficult decisions. Critical thinking involves a set of skills. Some critical thinking skills are observing, analyzing, and inferring. Critical thinking takes time and a lot of practice to master.
In the video “What is Critical Thinking? A definition”, the speaker/narrator used Dr. Richard Paul’s definition of critical thinking, which is that critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it. The speaker/narrator stated that critical thinking is an art that involves using our imagination to see connections and it also involves taking apart thinking and looking at how thinking is constructed. According to the speaker/narrator critical thinking is important because when we figure out how a person is thinking, it can help us look at the quality of the thinking and if it needs improvement or not. Its also important because it can help us to get into people’s mind and understand why they think the way they do and their view of the world. I agree with the speaker/narrator because I also believe that critical thinking helps to understand other people’s reasoning and views, since critical thinking in a way involves being open-minded/understanding.
In the video “how to think, not what to think”, the speaker Jesse Richardson believes that we should be teaching children how to think, not what to think. He defines critical thinking as a skill that involves creativity, in which can help us become more engaged and self-aware. The speaker stated that critical and creative thinking are two parts of an equation that add up to knowing how to think. He also states that knowing how to think keeps curiosity alive. According to the speaker critical thinking is important because critical thinking teaches us how to question things rigorously, it teaches us how to form sound, well-reasoned, and coherent thoughts and arguments. It also helps us to identify when something does not seem right. I agree with the speaker because knowing how to think sounds more engaging than being taught what to think, knowing how to think gives a person more individuality than being taught what to think .
Hey Sofia, I enjoyed reading your response because you included all the key points that stood out to me as well. I agree, critical thinking for both readers was outlined slightly different as for Jesse he worked along side the idea of the critical thinking being the skill in which involved creativity and something your response made me realize is both speakers definitions were more similar than I thought.. Jesse mentioned creativity and Dr Paul outlined critical thinking involving “art”
Critical thinking is the use of different perspectives towards a situation. The first video explains how its analyzing and using your imagination to understand it. As in the second video the speaker explains it is creativity and curiosity(engaging). The speaker expresses how some school systems block the capability of using creativity. The first speaker claims critical thinking is art and is important in order to understand and comprehend how others view the world. The second speaker claims it will help people become better problem solvers. “So the point of teaching kids how to think creatively is to teach them how to be adaptive, how to innovate in order to solve problems.” I agree because analyzing and inspiration are what take part in expanding someones mindset and understanding in any aspect.
Hello Lissett, you gave a well straight forward claims of both speakers, I agree that it will help in many aspects and expanding upon ourselves and others. I also believe yes critical thinking doesn’t always mean just one perspective towards a situation but definitely a variety of people to come to one conclusion or even multiple.
Hello Lissett, you presented a very thoughtful breakdown explaining your understanding of the topic. I completely agree with you. that teaching ” children” how to think creatively is not only teaching them it’s also helping them to become familiar with Critical thinking which is one central point to help everyone develop better their minds when it comes to thinking profoundly and creatively.
Critical Thinking is a way to keep our brains running and to be able to expand our thinking, to have an open mind to those opinions around you. Not just your understanding but picking off from one another and expanding. We even change our thinking when we other people get to explain and analyze situations. perspectives start to change and the brain is interpretting new information. In the first video Richard Paul breaks it down into 3 straightforward ways critical thinking is done, which is Analyzing, Evaluating, and Thinking. He believed Critical Thinking is the Art of evaluating thinking with a view to improving it. Being able to identify the different perspectives and going further on what they mean and practicing. Taking apart and understanding what those 3 tools mean and break it down simply. The other video of Jesse Richardson goes into details explaining that we aren’t taught how to think, how to engage more and just be able to have our motivation to be curious about something or to want to be creative of our self. He spoke about self awareness and being able to be aware of our own thinking, whether its right or wrong. Critical thinking is
“designed to solve problems, creativity and critically, reasoning and rationalities” I think Jesse went in full details to help us people understand that we need to teach ourselves to engage and think more for ourselves and have more to expand upon.
To add on I agree with both talkers, they both highlighted details that are important such as the 3 straight forward tools to be used in critical thinking and the Jesse taught me even to go deeper to not just look at it from broad perspective but to think more and make my brain function rather than saying yeah this is correct because this person said it was. These were important to the speakers because critical thinking is being able to understand others and to understand ourselves and what we are thinking, to even go beyond that.
Firstly, Critical thinking analyzes facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form a judgment. Dr. Richard Paul defines Critical thinking as the art of examining and evaluating thinking to improve it. In addition, He claims that Critical Thinking may be defined in many different ways. It is an art, and like any art, it takes time. And practice getting good at it. Because we need our imagination to see connections like a detective looking for patterns that help find who did it. Just as art reflects how the artist looks at the world, Critical Thinking helps us understand how someone’s thinking or actions reflects how they see the world. We think all the time, but often, we don’t look closely at thinking and how we see things, and how our thinking affects how we and others see the world. In my opinion, this explanation shows us how Critical Thinking brings its importance into our daily lives. The other speaker defines Critical Thinking as the act of deliberately analyzing information so that you can make better judgments and decisions. It involves using logic, reasoning, and creativity to conclude and better understand things. This speaker believes that critical thinking is a broad skill applied to many situations. You can use it for a job interview, manage your time better, decide on purchasing things, and so much more. I agree with both speakers’ definitions of Critical thinking. I believe both descriptions give us a better sense of the deep meaning of Critical thinking and its significant role in doing critical thinking every day.
The process of critical thinking includes thinking thoroughly and actively, asking questions, and assessing evidence. In the first video, they define critical thinking as “the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking to improve it” (“What is Critical Thinking? A Definition”). Critical thinking is important because it not only helps us look at our thinking but also the thinking of others. Yes, I agree with this speaker because you can better understand yourself if you have the skill of thinking creatively. Jesse Richardson talks about critical thinking as a skill and how thinking creatively and critically is important. He also talks about how the minds of kids in school are blocked and how if we spent as much time teaching kids how to think for themselves this would be great for them in all aspects of their learning in life. In the second video, it is also saying we should be teaching kids how to think and not what to think. One can become a better problem solver if they engage their minds, attain understanding, and also by questioning things. Yes, I agree with this speaker because critical thinking is one of the most important cognitive skills and good creativity comes from good thinking.
hello
I like the way you analyze the speaker’s idea. You straight out their thought and classified them into age differences. . I completely agree with you. that teaching ” children” how to think creatively is not only teaching them. it’s also helping them to become familiar with Critical thinking which is one central point to help everyone develop better their minds when it comes to thinking profoundly and creatively.
Critical thinking differs in the eyes of the two speakers however according to Dr. Richard Paul critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it. Yes it is indeed important in the eyes of Dr Richard because critical thinking looks for artifacts of reason from how a person may write talk or even how a person acts it gives us the clues to dig out the reasoning of a thinker. On the other hand Jesse Richardson defines critical thinking indirectly but eventually states that we as people should teach children how to think instead of what to think and in doing so we’re involving them in the process of their own learning . Instead of just giving these sed children the “right answer” we’re asking them to engage in their own minds and their own awareness by questions things. This strategy word later result in the children’s understanding ( critical thinking) and not just knowledge. Critical thinking to Jesse as oppose to Dr. Richard is critical thinking is a design in which “solves the problem”. All in all I agree with both speakers Jesse because I knew from young I was more aligned with the teachers who didn’t just give me the right answer as Jesse expressed about the education system when he spoke about its significance in the true meaning of critical thinking. As I also would have to agree with Dr Paul’s idea which is critical thinking being an analysis of thinking because that was my first initial answer when hearing the question.
Critical Thinking “thinking about thinking. Critical thinking is a way a claim of deciding if a claim is true or false. Dr. Richard Paul defines Critical thinking as the art of examining and evaluating thinking to improve it. In addition, He claims that Critical Thinking may be defined in many different ways. It is an art, and like any art, it takes time. And practice getting good at it. Because we need our imagination to see connections like a detective looking for patterns that help find who did it. Just as art reflects how the artist looks at the world, Critical Thinking helps us understand how someone’s thinking or actions reflects how they see the world. We think all the time, but often, we don’t look closely at thinking and how we see things, and how our thinking affects how we and others see the world. In my opinion, this explanation shows us how Critical Thinking brings its importance into our daily lives. Critical thinking is a key to success in your career, critical thinkers make better decisions. The other speaker defines Critical Thinking as the act of deliberately analyzing information so that you can make better judgments and decisions. It involves using logic, reasoning, and creativity to conclude and better understand things. This speaker believes that critical thinking is a broad skill that can be applied to many situations. personally, I am not good in making decisions. This class will help me to make a big difference in my life.
Critical thinking is the process of analyzing an issue to make a form of judgment, it causes people to make independent and reflective thinking. According to “What is Critical Thinking? A Definition,” Critical thinking is defined as an art that involve analyzing and evaluating an issue and finding solutions to improve it. Rather than to simply look at an issue, critical thinking allows for someone to be able to take apart a certain thought process and be able to understand how and why the thought process was formed and is it reliable. In “How to think, not what to think,” Jesse Richardson defines critical thinking as engaging your mind to not only gain the knowledge to be able to solve issues but also to understand them. Richardson describes this by speaking on the education system, and how it stops children from thinking outside of the box and taking away the opportunities to question and educate themselves on certain issues. According to both speakers, critical thinking is important because it allows for people to process and analyze evidence and information to evaluate solutions, dilemmas, and choices. As well as the development of our critical thinking skills should be taught in our education system, allowing adolescents to view and understand various positions, choices, and judgement.
Adding on, I agree with both speakers on how critical thinking is important because it allows for people to have a deeper understanding of not only what they view but themselves as well. It can help answering questions people have for themselves or aid them in finding the best solutions for their life.
The act of critical thinking to me is to look deeper into something to form a judgement based on your observations that can differ from what you or others would assume when looking at something at first glance. The first video by Gary Meegan says that critical thinking has many definitions but they all are based off one definition. That definition is by Dr. Richard Paul who says that critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it. The second video by Jesse Richardson says that it is making arguments and thoughts based off good reasoning and making new connections through them. It is important to Jesse Richardson because it lets people adapt and innovate when solving issues. Gary says that it is important as it helps us evaluate our own thinking and lets us see into what others think. I agree that it is important as if we always took things at face value then we would never be able to grow as a person and species. Examples of this would be like what Jesse Richardson says when great innovations have occurred because of critical thinking one of these being scientific breakthroughs.
Critical thinking is an analytical process where one cites the pros and cons of an idea before implementing it. Both speakers define critical thinking as an art. The speaker defines critical thinking as the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking to improve it. The importance of critical thinking is that it helps identify unnecessary, absurd, and irrational bluffs in our day-to-day life. Critical thinking opens our minds to the possibility of being wrong and not entirely being bounded to one direction in solving a problem or coming up with an idea. It encourages outward thinking and promotes the other chances of being creative and innovative. Also, the speaker says that critical thinking sows a seed of understanding to one’s mind. Critical thinking liberates minds and frees on from manipulation, making one’s mind impervious to lies. I agree with the speaker that critical thinking makes a person’s mind a fortress of understanding and impervious to manipulation. The reason is with reason and analytical skill when involving a mind in a situation. A person’s mind is open to all sources readily engaged in deciding what the best solution is.
Critical thinking is the process of conceptualizing or evaluating information generated by observation, reflection, and communication as a way to measure belief and action.
According to Gary Meegan, there are many definitions of critical thinking. Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it. Critical thinking helps us to understand how someone’s thinking or actions reflects how they see the world.
Analyzing – taking apart thinking and looking at how that thinking is constructed; inclusive of dissecting clues.
Evaluating – Looking at the quality of thinking. Is it of sound ideas? can we rely on the conclusions the thinker gives us? We should have criteria to check their quality of thinking and whether it can be trusted or not. Critical thinking does not only allow us to look into our own thinking but also that of others.
Whilst, critical thinking according to Jesse Richardson, TedX Brisbane is the idea of teaching kids today how to think, not what to think. Teaching children how to think involves them in the process of their own learning. Engaging their own mind and awareness by questioning things. Teaching kids how to think creatively is to teach them how to be adaptive, how to innovate in order to solve problems.
Learning critical thinking skills teaches us how to question things vigorously, to form sound well-reasoned coherent thoughts and arguments, and critically how to identify balderdash. The most important thing critical thinking teaches us is that it’s good to be wrong. The ideas we hold aren’t us and we don’t need to defend them.
Jesse Richardson promoted the idea that creative and critical thinking intercorrelates with each other. He suggested that making education in a classroom simple and fun creates a guide for students to think critically and creatively on their own.
According to both speakers, critical thinking is important because it promotes self-reflection, involves comprehensive abilities, promotes creativity and engagement, creates an atmosphere to ask critical questions, and it creates an educated population with actual jobs.
I agree 100% with what both speakers presented, having critical and creative thinking skills can generate solutions both for the external and internal world of each individual. Having such skills widens the spectrum of thoughts, communication, and the ability to internalize your own and others’ thoughts, actions, and decisions.
I really like the way you said that” The ideas we hold aren’t us and we don’t need to defend them.”This is so true. Sometimes we go through all this pressure from childhood to stand up to our society’s expectations rather than following up on what we actually believe. Critical thinking does help us to get rid of this burden.
Critical Thinking for me is to go deeper into your thoughts and opinions. It’s to analyze the situation and have a better understanding of what it is from a different point of view. The two speakers define it as having another perspective from the opinion to improve it, making it better. Both speakers are explaining and agree that most of the time we don’t take the time to analyze our thoughts. It is important because it makes us think deeper and brings up our creativity and expresses ourselves better. I agree with them because sometimes we don’t think thoroughly we just have a reaction and probably If we would take the time to analyze we would come up with better situation ideas and reactions.
As stated in the video by Gary Meegan, according to Dr. Richard Paul “Critical Thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.” When we thinking critical we can analyze the mind of others.
Critical thinking is the calculation of general facts, proof, statements, and opinions to get to a conclusion. In the first video, Gary Meegan defines critical thinking by saying that it’s a form of art and there is always room for improving it. In the second video, Jess Richardson defines critical thinking by saying that it should be practiced from childhood. Both the speakers put stress on this because in order to survive this world one must first know what is going on in their mind first. Although both the speaker has different points of view, they both are undoubtedly correct in their own ideology. I agree with Jess Richardson more because I agree with the fact when he said that critical thinking needs to be introduced among people from childhood. Because we made this whole system of doing everything according to the guideline without second-guessing why we are doing this that in the middle of the way we find ourselves lost in the battle of life. It’s better to let the child wander in their own mind to come to a conclusion. Rather than ordering them what to do it’s better to them all the possibilities and guide them. So when they all grow up they can see the world with their own ideology rather than someone else scripted peper. I don’t disagree with Megan Grey but I feel like in order to observe a matter critically first we need to be introduced to critical thinking. Therefore I personally like how Jess Richerson defines critical thinking more than Megan Grey.