How to Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills, Essay Example

Introduction

Critical thinking skills require individuals to participate in a variety of exercises in order to be able to examine issues with a critical lens in order to answer questions and make positive decisions accordingly. This process requires individuals to become student learners in many ways and to absorb information in a manner that will enable them to view ideas and concepts from a critical perspective. Critical thinking is also achieved through life experience and situations in which decision-making is required where much thought and consideration into the decision must be made. These skills demonstrate the importance of understanding the dynamics of critical thinking and how this process impacts everyday decision-making in different ways.

Body

Improving critical thinking skills is often achieved through an examination of different case studies or examples that may impact how a person views a given situation or circumstance (Popil, 2011). The case study method offers an opportunity to examine different types of data and information that require a critical thinking approach in order to determine the best possible outcomes (Popil, 2011). Most importantly, critical thinking skills require continuous improvement and are achieved through the analysis of different experiences that impact the life span in different ways (Popil, 2011). Case studies provide learning engagement and a greater focus on the issues that have been identified in order to determine how to address a given situation in an effective manner (Popil, 2011). This skill will encourage individuals to adapt specific learning tools into their own manner and to develop critical thinking abilities that will have a positive impact over time.

It is important for individuals to learn the art of asking questions that will have an impact on the critical thinking process and on the development of new ideas that will improve the decision-making process (Browne & Keeley, 2003). In this context, it is important to identify the problem that must be solved and the questions that might contribute to managing the context of the problem effectively in order to identify one or more solutions that will have merit (Browne & Keeley, 2003). This process also enables the individual to determine what is not relevant to the circumstances in order to better focus on the areas which will have the greatest impact (Browne & Keeley, 2003). It is known that “Using case studies in teaching will assist nurse educators in promoting active learning; furthermore, it will help in developing critical thinking skills, which are extremely important for nurses and other health care professionals” (Browne & Keeley, 2003, p. 204).

In the classroom setting, critical thinking skills are fostered in an effort to achieve free thinking that may support the ability to consider issues in a critical manner (Boostrom, 2005). Teaching is designed to stimulate different types of thinking in students; therefore, it is expected that classroom exercises will positively impact the ability of individuals to think about ideas and situations in new ways that will not only spark creative perspectives, but also a critical glimpse into different problems that will positively influence students’ skills over time (Boostrom, 2005). These skills enable students to be learners throughout the life span and to be effective in all of their decision-making capabilities as they encounter new types of experiences (Boostrom, 2005).

Conclusion

The ability to develop and strengthen critical thinking skills begins in the classroom setting and is further expanded upon throughout the life span in many formal and informal ways. This process requires individuals to examine different ideas and situations thoroughly, and this process is acquired through traditional classroom experiences, case studies, and practical engagement in a variety of situations. Therefore, critical thinking skills support a greater understanding of circumstances and what steps are required to make positive and meaningful decisions that will have the greatest possible impact on those directly and indirectly involved in these situations.

References

Boostrom, R. (2005). Thinking: The Foundation of Critical and Creative Learning in the Classroom (Advances in Contemporary Educational Thought). Teachers College Press.

Browne, M.N,. & Keeley, S.M. (2003). Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking. Prentice Hall.

Popil, I. (2011). Promotion of critical thinking by using case studies as teaching method. Nurse education today, 31(2), 204-207.