Attributes of Critical Thinking: The Skill You Need

Previous educational years had a greater emphasis on mindless mechanical learning and just the capacity to repeat and retain the knowledge provided in the books. Math was the only subject where problem-solving abilities were taught, and scientific labs were used for only a few experiments.

Today, however, learning is prioritised more on the development of critical abilities and ways of thinking that will help children succeed after school in the real world.

One of the most crucial academic abilities is the ability to ask or reflect on one’s own knowledge and understanding of the information that has been delivered to one. Critical thinking is especially important for students who have been assigned a project and must conduct extensive research on the subject. It will eventually help you at work as well. In this article, let's explore more on critical thinking, including the attributes of critical thinking, while also looking at its importance in the 21st century.

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What is Critical Thinking?

Simply put, critical thinking is the ability to understand things and question the likely outcomes of actions. This generation of students has grown up in an environment of vast amounts of information, the majority of which comes from online sources, and it is clear that there is an enormous need to learn how to evaluate what they study and hear around them, as well as identify false information beyond the superficial data provided.

The intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully interpreting, applying, analysing, synthesising, and/or evaluating information gathered from or generated by observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication as a trust of belief and action is known as critical thinking. It is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions in their exemplary form: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness.

It entails investigating the following thought structures or elements: purpose, problem, or question-at-hand; assumptions; concepts; empirical grounding; reasoning leading to conclusions; implications and consequences; objections from alternative viewpoints; and frame of reference.

Attributes of Critical Thinking

According to studies, companies place a great priority on individuals who have the ability to think critically. They seek employees who are capable of problem-solving, decision-making, and appropriate action. According to a 2015 survey from Australia, the demand for critical thinking abilities among new graduates increased by 158% over a three-year period.
Someone with critical thinking abilities can: 

• Recognise the connections between ideas
• Assess the significance and relevance of differences and ideas
• Recognize, construct, and evaluate arguments
• Recognize inconsistencies and reasoning errors
• Problems should be approached in a consistent and systematic manner
• Consider how they justify their own assumptions, beliefs, and values

Critical thinking is the process of thinking about things in specific ways in order to arrive at the best possible solution given the circumstances known to the thinker. In layman’s terms, it is a method of thinking about whatever is currently on your mind in order to reach the best possible conclusion.

Why Critical Thinking is Crucial for Learning in the 21st Century

As the world continues to face new challenges, particularly due to COVID-19, younger generations and the education systems they are a part of have become more dynamic. However, any education system that has stood the test of time has certain foundations. Instilling Critical Thinking skills has always been emphasised and practised by educators across the liberal education spectrum.

Improving a student’s critical thinking skills is especially important in a liberal education model that believes in teaching students how to think rather than what to think. To rationally choose what to believe or what course of action to follow, our children must be able to think critically.

Students who lack the ability to think critically may be more susceptible to distorted thinking and the danger of believing in false notions.

Here are some of the reasons why students today require critical thinking skills: 

• Furthers Linked Life Skills: Critical thinking supports a variety of allied life skills, including planning, organisation, open-mindedness, and communication. Critical thinking equips you to face issues in both the personal and professional spheres with ease because it is a life skill in and of itself. It promotes self-assurance and independence, helping to mould successful lifestyles. One who has the ability to think critically will be more productive in all areas of life since they will learn from their failures.
• Fosters Creativity: In order to come up with a new or different solution to a given problem, one cannot rely solely on new ideas. It is critical for the student to understand that the new ideas generated are applicable and useful in the given problem. This is where actual critical thinking skills come into play. It aids in evaluating solutions and then selecting the best one and transforming or adjusting it as needed.
• Promotes Autonomous Learning: Rather than relying solely on classroom learning and teachers for complete guidance and instructions, critical thinking enables students to become more self-reliant and independent learners. Additionally, it aids students in assessing their learning preferences and identifying their strengths and weaknesses. By acquiring this skill, they can better concentrate on the problem and create goals.
• A Core-General Skill: Critical thinking is the ability of a student to think more logically and clearly. It is not confined to a particular subject. Students should practise critical thinking because it helps them think critically and solve problems more effectively and methodically. This will greatly advance the student’s career in any field they choose.

Critical thinking contributes to better grades and accomplishments: Students’ academic performance also improves as they develop their critical learning skills. Students’ ability to apply the theory they have been learning boosts their overall knowledge. They can comprehend and offer criticism, which promotes a deeper comprehension that will show in their grades. For instance, students who study history and compare and analyse historical events tend to have a greater understanding of the significance of history and how it might be applied to current issues.

Critical thinking aims to achieve the best possible results in any situation. To accomplish this, information must be gathered and evaluated from as many different sources as possible. In essence, critical thinking necessitates a clear, often uncomfortable, assessment of your personal strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, as well as their potential impact on future decisions. It is necessary to act as an active learner rather than to be a passive receiver of information. Instead of accepting ideas and assumptions at presented value, critical thinkers rigorously question them. They will always seek to determine whether the figures, facts, arguments, and findings represent the entire picture and are willing to be proven wrong.

East Delhi's Happy English School strives to celebrate learning in a vibrant, safe environment that values each individual's development.

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Students are at the heart of the community at Happhy English School. Parents, teachers, leaders, support staff, and administrative personnel are all constantly learning to help students learn.

Happy English School strives to provide a holistic education that will prepare a child to lead an empowered future life. A joyful and happy environment nurtures the child, exposes them to a wide range of experiences, and allows them to develop a wide range of skills that they can use later in life. They are guided in the right direction by the values they instil in them.

The environment at Happy English School stimulates the child's desire to learn while also igniting the mind to foster critical thinking. Critical thinking learning stages gradually develop a rational mind capable of dealing with all situations in life and conducting analyses in order to make informed decisions when necessary. School is never a chore at Happy English School.

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