Holding politicians accountable, choosing the right friends, and performing advanced calculations. Depending on who you ask, these procedures may require a common denominator: the ability to think critically.
In college, students make important decisions, learn about different world perspectives and hone their skills in their academic areas of interest. Students can prepare to make the most of their college experience by becoming better critical thinkers while in high school.
What is critical thinking?
Scholars sometimes disagree on how to describe and define critical thinking.
A person using the term can mean one of two things, says Daniel Willingham, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia. It can mean thinking about times when others might not, such as when someone takes a writer’s point of view into consideration after reading a newspaper comment. Or it may mean thinking sharply when solving problems or completing tasks, Willingham says.
“The way you want to approach those two types of critical thinking is really different,” Willingham says. “If there was a formula for getting kids to think critically, we would use it in schools.”
David Hitchcock, professor emeritus of philosophy at McMaster University in Canada, wrote the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on critical thinking and “came to the conclusion that it’s not actually a specific kind of thinking. It’s just good thinking. It’s reflective thinking, careful thinking.” “Rational thinking.”
Experts say this is important no matter how one might choose to describe it.
“Because critical thinking allows you to come up with useful beliefs and actions, it actually seems to be vital for anyone,” says Elaine Gambrell, a graduate professor at the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley.
Ways to develop critical thinking skills
Here are six ways high school students can develop critical thinking skills before college:
- Build your industry-specific skill set.
- Conduct experiments.
- Question your assumptions.
- Read books written by critical thinkers.
- Start a critical thinking club.
- Talk to peers with different viewpoints.
Build your industry-specific skill set
People who view critical thinking as someone’s ability to use problem-solving skills to complete tasks can become better critical thinkers by improving their basic understanding of the subject they are studying, Willingham says.
“Think about the different fields that students study — science, literature, and math, for example. “Those fields have different definitions of what it means to understand something,” he says. And you kind of have to respect those distinctions between fields.
Conduct experiments
High school students who complete laboratory assignments as part of science courses are familiar with the experiment. Hitchcock explains this as one of the many mental processes that make up the process of critical thinking.
The experience involves searching for answers, which requires openness. Hitchcock recommends that students investigate topics they find interesting.
“If you have a problem that concerns you personally, ask about it in a personal way,” he says. “Don’t get in the habit of jumping to conclusions. Consider alternatives. Think it over.”
Question your assumptions
“Most of us don’t know some things,” Gambill says. “Anything students assume they know, they can start asking questions.”
Students have assumptions, which form over time as they accept something they hear as fact. Gambrell says critical thinkers challenge ideas presented by leaders, such as teachers and politicians.
“Authoritarians like people who can’t think critically,” she says.
Read books written by critical thinkers
Reading books that challenge norms can help high school students understand how a critical thinker’s mind works. Doing so can help them realize that knowledge is “in a constant state of flux,” Gambill says.
Gambrell recommends Goalless Teachers, Goalless Students by Henry Perkinson, a book that challenges traditional notions of learning and teaching.
Start a critical thinking club
“Critical thinking is actually a very dangerous thing,” she says. “Asking questions is often seen as a really bad thing, when in fact it’s the main thing.”
Some students may feel anxious about asking important questions in class. Gambill recommends starting a student-run club at their high school to facilitate openness-led conversations.
Teachers can also create a classroom atmosphere that encourages students to ask critical questions, she says.
Talk to peers with different viewpoints
Just as in college, students in high school may encounter peers who have opposing viewpoints. Experts say considering alternative viewpoints can help students become better critical thinkers.
“Have conversations with people who think differently,” Hitchcock says. “Try to understand the thought processes of people who approach issues differently than you do. Gain an appreciation for the diverse ways in which you can think about something.”
Developing critical thinking skills before college is essential for success in higher education and beyond. By honing these skills, students can better analyze information, form reasoned judgments, and solve complex problems. Critical thinking is a crucial tool for navigating the vast amount of information available in the digital age, and can also lead to increased academic success and career opportunities. Therefore, it is important for students to begin developing these skills early on and continue to practice and refine them throughout their academic careers. This article will explore various strategies for developing critical thinking skills before heading to college, including cultivating curiosity, seeking out diverse perspectives, and approaching information with skepticism.