Critical thinking Day 1 & 2

Takeaway

The Life Class on Critical Thinking and Systems Thinking was very insightful and gave me several practical tools that I can apply in both my personal and professional life.

One of my key takeaways was understanding the difference between reflex and reflect. Instead of reacting immediately to a situation, I need to pause, reflect, and think more deeply before forming an opinion or making a decision.

The concept of the Four Thinkers – Preacher, Prosecutor, Politician and Scientist was particularly useful. It made me realise how easily we can fall into the first three ways of thinking when we are trying to prove that we are right, defend our beliefs, or convince others. The Scientist mindset encourages us to stay curious, question our assumptions, look for evidence and be open to changing our thinking.

Another important learning was to avoid using absolute terms such as always, never, everyone, or no one. These words can make our thinking rigid and may not accurately represent reality.

I found the approach to evaluating research and information extremely practical. Whenever I come across a research finding or claim, I can ask:

• Which research is being referred to?
• Who conducted it?
• What exactly was measured?
• How large was the sample?
• What was it compared with?
• Does the research show correlation or causation?

The decision-making process was another useful takeaway. Before reaching a conclusion, I should clearly identify the topic, understand the explanation, examine the claim and counterclaim, and then arrive at a balanced conclusion.

The distinction between the Threat System and the Response System was also eye-opening. It helped me understand how our reactions can change depending on which system is activated and reminded me of the importance of creating a pause before responding.

Overall, the session encouraged me to think again rather than react quickly. I would like to consciously apply these tools when analysing information, making decisions, responding to situations, and encouraging critical thinking in my students.