Characteristics of Critical Thinking

•  What is critical thinking?                                                                  
                                                                                         

 Critical thinking is the ability to objectively analyze information to make informed decisions or judgments. It involves questioning assumptions, considering multiple perspectives, and using logic and evidence to arrive at reasoned conclusions.

• Importance of critical thinking

 In today's complex world, we are bombarded with information and faced with numerous choices every day. Critical thinking helps us sort through this information and make informed decisions based on logic and evidence.

Critical thinking allows us to identify and solve problems in a systematic and effective way. It helps us think creatively and generate innovative solutions.

Critical thinking helps us analyze arguments and evaluate evidence, which in turn helps us communicate our ideas and opinions effectively.

 Critical thinking allows us to recognize and overcome cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias and groupthink, which can lead to flawed decision-making.

Critical thinking is highly valued by employers and is a key skill in many professions, including business, law, medicine, and science.

So, critical thinking is important in today's society because it enables us to make informed decisions, solve problems effectively, communicate ideas clearly, avoid cognitive biases, and achieve success in our careers.

• Characteristics of critical thinking

1.Active listening

Active listening requires giving your full attention to the person speaking, and avoiding distractions such as your phone or other interruptions.

Active listening involves suspending your own judgments and biases, and seeking to understand the speaker's perspective without criticism, summarizing the speaker's message to demonstrate understanding and clarify any misunderstandings and asking questions to clarify the speaker's message and ensure that you fully understand their perspective.

   https://www.coursera.org/articles/active-listening

2.Being curious

Being curious refers to having a strong desire to learn, explore, and discover new information or experiences. It involves asking questions, seeking knowledge, and having an open-minded attitude towards the world around us. Curiosity is a key driver of personal growth and development, and can lead to new insights, opportunities, and discoveries.

 

3.Being disciplined

Being disciplined refers to having the ability to think logically and systematically, while also being open-minded and willing to consider different perspectives. It involves applying a structured approach to analyzing and evaluating information, and avoiding personal biases and assumptions. Disciplined critical thinking requires a commitment to learning and developing one's thinking skills, and can lead to more effective problem-solving, decision-making, and communication.

  5 Traits of Disciplined thinking and How to achieve them? - The Black Sheep Community

4.Being humble

Being humble in critical thinking refers to having a willingness to acknowledge and learn from one's mistakes, as well as being open to new ideas and perspectives. Humble critical thinkers value the importance of ongoing learning and growth, and strive to continuously improve their thinking skills.

 

Activity: How to Improve Sri Lankan Cricket?

The activity highlights how critical thinking characteristics were applied during a group discussion, and how the individual and group drawbacks were identified. The drawbacks included not listening properly, being distracted, and trying to prove one's argument. After a discussion, we came up with solutions to improve the country's cricket team, including focusing on grassroots development, improving facilities, motivating the current national team, and strengthening the administration of the cricket board for long-term success.