It’s May and we are in deadline season for a lot of HE and FE courses. I wanted to focus on the various layers of critical thinking today.
As I have mentioned before, the term ‘critical thinking’ often leaves both students and educators pondering exactly what it is made up of. I aim to unravel its layers and provide some understanding.
At its core, I think critical thinking goes beyond application of intellectual processes; it embodies a multifaceted approach essential for scholarly discourse. For ease of reading, I have categorised critical thinking under two headings: the ‘surface level’ and the ‘deeper level.’
I want your for a moment to imagine critical thinking as an iceberg. Above the surface we have the process-oriented considerations. Ideas such as: credibility, evaluation of information, and validation of evidence are common in this space. This foundational level sets the stage for entry into ‘thought’ but merely scratches the surface of critical thinking.
Beneath the surface lies the heart of criticality where I believe the the deeper level thinking happens. Although not immediately obvious, this is where the hard work of confronting biases and assumptions, fostering introspection, and piecing together nuanced perspectives. These submerged ideas challenge students and educators to work through and sail through the waves and embrace intellectual autonomy.
For educators striking a balance between imparting knowledge and fostering independent critical thinking is important. Whilst it can be a challenge when there is so much content to get through, access of support services within or beyond the institution can alleviate the burden.
I feel the path to mastery of critical thinking begins with clear planning—an analogy likened to preparing for a trip away. Just as you may buy, put together items for travel which can be either necessities or luxuries, students must be able to understand the core resources they need to consult and any supplementary materials tailored to the topic or sub-topic being studied.
Finally, I believe a strategic itinerary is needed just like you visit a new place and only have a few days to explore. From rigorous research to detailed note-taking, students can learn the practice of navigating critical thinking. This journey requires self-reflection, consideration of audience, and an appreciation of diverse perspectives.
This blog post is based on series 2, episode 5 of my Talking CriticalEd podcast. If you’d like to explore further, you can listen back on your preferred podcast listening platform.
