What is critical thinking?

One of the types of human activity, called intellectual and characterized by a high level of understanding, perception, objectivity of the approach to the information field that surrounds it, is critical thinking.

Many meanings of the term "critical thinking" are found in the literature, however, very often they are not in agreement with each other. However, this phenomenon should be understood equally by everyone: both the teacher of the university and the primary school teacher, he should be understood by representatives of the most diverse ethnic groups and cultures, so the definition itself should be as flexible as possible.

Sometimes critical thinking is also called directional thinking, because it is already aimed at achieving a certain result. It is a carefully thought-out, judicious decision with respect to some judgment: should we accept, postpone or reject it, and the level of confidence with which we do it.

Let us first consider those types of mental activity that are not suitable for the definition of "critical thinking". The most important mental operation is memorization, without which the learning process is impossible, but it is radically different from critical thinking. The computer has a much better memory than any of us, however, everyone understands that thinking is not its ability to remember. However, in the old-fashioned way, many school teachers value memory more than any thinking, and in examinations and exams only check the memory size of students, but this is wrong, one should focus on those kinds of mental activity that are much more difficult.

With understanding of complex ideas another kind of so-called "non-critical thinking" is connected, without which the learning process is impossible. Sometimes it is necessary to work your head in literature and history, mathematics and biology lessons, to understand what is written in the textbook, or what the teacher says. Understanding is a complex mental operation, especially if the material is not easy. The third kind of "uncritical" thinking is intuitive or creative thinking. The most complex work is done by the brain of a musician, artist, athlete, however, they themselves usually do not even notice it. Such mental processes are unconscious, as a rule.

Note that the technology of development of critical thinking has the basic provisions, which include three stages, or phases. These stages in the Russian translation have such names: challenge - (semantic stage), comprehension of accepted information (reflection), reflection. At the stage of the call, the stage of comprehension, the stage of reflection, there are concrete strategies and techniques. The development of critical thinking occurs when specific goals and motivations arise for learning a new one.

Information that helps develop thinking must be relevant, so it is best absorbed. It is very difficult to motivate to the cognitive activity of a modern student.

At the end of the twentieth century, the US developed a technology of critical thinking through writing and reading.

To better organize the lesson, use the division on the stage. The first stage is called a "challenge". In each lesson, his presence is compulsory. At this stage, it is possible that the knowledge that the student has on a particular problem or topic is actualized and generalized; To the studied topic to cause a steady interest, and also the student can be motivated to the educational activity; At home and at the lesson of the student to encourage to active work. Other tasks pursued by the second stage, called "comprehension." Here, new information is received, its comprehension takes place and the correlation is already with the knowledge that is available.

At the third stage, called "reflection", the main is the generalization and integral comprehension of the information that was received, the appropriation of new information by the student and new knowledge, each of the students has its own attitude to the material being studied.