Critical thinking entails the evaluation of data research findings and observations to make judgments. It improves the ability to analyze information and make sound judgments. People with excellent critical thinking skills can make informed decisions based on available data. They can distinguish between less useful and useful information when making decisions. They are also able to make a logical connection between different ideas.
Critical thinking has enabled me to relate well to my peers in school and at home. Critical thinking skill has helped me solve different disputes between my friends and me. We have also been equipped with various skills that have enabled us to handle exam questions, and this has improved my class performance. Self-assessment has helped me in active thinking and also interaction and exchange of ideas with my peers. Before my course, I was unable to make informed decisions or judgments and always found myself in unnecessary fights with my peers. I was poor in handling demanding tasks and situations. I always tried to avoid my problems instead of solving them.
I have gained a lot of competencies from critical thinking classes. I can now analyze problems, questions, and any information provided. After taking the course, my grade has improved and I can go through the exam questions carefully. I have been able to come up with new approaches to situations. I can also use problem-solving and reasoning skills, consistently coming up with solutions to the condition. I have developed skills to evaluate materials with insight. Since starting the lessons, I can consistently use inductive reasoning. Before taking the course, my thinking and reasoning were biased. I used to discriminate and make fun of people due to body shapes. Critical thinking helps to build cognitive thinking (Cottrell, 2017). It also guides me into different perspectives, to reflect on various possibilities, avoid personal bias, and accept findings, and this prevents me from jumping into conclusions.
I will use the critical thinking process when making decisions to make a lasting change in my thinking habit. According to Elmansy (2017), doing a lot of research on different aspects helps one develop critical thinking skills. When doing research, it is essential to ask yourself questions like who, when, how, and where. After reading, I will try and remember what you have learned, by writing it down, reciting, and recalling what I have covered. Another process in critical thinking is comprehension. This involves organizing facts and ideas, explaining, and describing them (McPeck, 2016). Then I will apply what they have learned in real-life situations, demonstrating it, creating, or even drawing. I will do the analysis of the information and knowledge that I have, through comparing the ideas with others, examining, and reading. Critical thinking involves combining ideas with others to come up with something new through sharing discussing and revising. The last step involves deciding what you think by developing opinions and coming up with conclusions.
Thinking partners will guide on how to react on different situations, help me in reflecting on actions that I have taken, help me in tackling things that I am avoiding and give me new ideas worth considering. A thinking coach will help me in increasing my confidence in making critical decisions. I can advance critical thinking through reading and reflecting more. I will Evaluate various evidence and think for myself. I will revise things and situations to come up with the best solutions to the situations I am facing. I also need to be aware of my mental processes.
References
Cottrell, S. (2017). Critical thinking skills: Effective analysis, argument and reflection. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Elmansy, R. (2017, June 25). 6 Steps for Effective Critical Thinking. Retrieved from https://www.designorate.com/steps-effective-critical-thinking/
McPeck, J. E. (2016). Critical thinking and education. Routledge.