What critical thinking means to me is the process of looking at the facts or evidence and making a decision, forming an opinion, or developing a course of action based on what you believe to be true. It also involves determining the results or outcomes for different decisions as well as considering other things that may be affected by choosing one decision versus another. Root cause analysis is an important factor in critical thinking because a common mistake is to make a decision based on a symptom instead of the root cause. Brainstorming, listening to others and having an open mind, and asking questions are valuable tools for successful critical thinking.
When applying critical thinking to literature, the definition is much the same for me. It involves brainstorming and having an open mind to establish possibilities of what the author may have meant by symbolisms, motives, etc. In historical literature, critical thinking will prompt the reader to make a determination why those being written about made the choices or decisions that they did. To make an attempt to “get inside” the author’s head will surely enhance the reading experience and comprehension. It teaches us to think “outside the box” and consider a world beyond our experiences and knowledge.
Most of what I currently read has to do with government goals and metrics in the financial arena. Since my section is held accountable for meeting these goals, critical thinking is vital to our success. An analysis of why we are or are not meeting the metrics must be performed and submitted. They call this Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO21. It involves an 8-Step Problem Solving Model designed to achieve process improvement. The eight steps are (1) Clarify and Validate the Problem, (2) Break Down the Problem and Identify Performance Gaps (Observe), (3) Set Improvement Target, (4)Determine Root Cause (Orient), (5) Develop Countermeasures (Decide), (6) See Countermeasures Through, (7) Confirm Results and Process, and (8) Standardize Successful Processes (Act). To complete one of these models requires critical thinking.
Since I spend most of my time in the workplace and have been programmed to think critically there, I do find these habits carrying over to other areas of my life. Some of these areas include discussions with my children about their choices or future, making a major purchase, personal finances, education, career changes, and planning for retirement. When watching or reading the media, I ask myself what message are they trying to convey and how might that message be skewed, incomplete, or limited by other sources. After a personal experience with the media, I became more fully aware that you need to research stories further to get the whole and accurate picture before forming an opinion.
I do anticipate this class to increase my critical thinking and analysis skills through discussions on designated readings and assignments. I hope to develop more of an open mind and not make decisions that are based just on my personal experiences or knowledge.
