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5 Ways to Improve Your Critical Thinking

5 Ways to Improve Your Critical Thinking

5 Ways to Improve Your Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is crucial when building out your education or training program. It’s important not to carry your own biases or assume you have all the answers before you begin. Instead, be able to look at the results of your data collection and analysis objectively.

Here are five ways to improve your critical thinking skills to make better decisions and create more effective educational programs:

5 Ways To Improve Your Critical Thinking

1. Formulate Your Question

Knowing what you’re looking for is the first step in critical thinking. This might sound simple, but it often isn’t. For instance, if you’re developing a training program for your company, your objectives might be clouded by various factors, such as trends in technology or your own experiences. However, if you first clearly define what you want to achieve—whether it’s improving employee skills, increasing productivity, or ensuring compliance—you can more effectively sift through information and decide if a particular approach fits your needs.

2. Gather Information

Once you’ve formulated your question, the next step is to gather relevant information. This step involves researching and collecting data that will help you make an informed decision. For example, if you’re creating a program to improve employee skills, you might seek expert advice, review case studies of successful programs, or gather feedback from employees about their learning preferences. By collecting this information, you can weigh different options and move closer to a well-informed decision.

3. Apply the Information

After gathering information, it’s crucial to apply it by asking critical questions. When faced with a decision, consider what concepts are at play and what assumptions exist. For instance, if you are evaluating a new tool that promises rapid learning improvements, ask yourself: What assumptions am I making about the tool’s effectiveness? Is there credible evidence supporting these claims? By scrutinizing the information, you can identify and discard unreliable or misleading data.

4. Consider the Implications

Analyzing the broader consequences of your decisions is a crucial component of critical thinking. For instance, imagine you are introducing a new training program that incorporates cutting-edge technology. While the program may seem promising and innovative, consider the potential challenges it might bring, such as the learning curve for employees, the necessity for technical support, and the compatibility with existing systems. By evaluating these factors, you can foresee possible obstacles and prepare strategies to mitigate them, ultimately leading to more informed and effective decision-making.

5. Explore Other Points of View

To truly engage in critical thinking, it’s essential to explore different perspectives when developing your program. Even if you strongly believe in a particular approach or methodology, understanding why others might prefer or need alternative methods can provide valuable insights. For example, if some team members favor hands-on workshops over online learning modules, explore their reasons to help you evaluate the effectiveness of your own methods. It’s possible you prefer them because they are most familiar to you, and not because they are the best option.

This can involve considerations such as learning styles, engagement levels, and accessibility. By considering various perspectives, you can make more balanced and informed decisions, ultimately creating a more effective and inclusive training program.

Conclusion

This 5 step process is a powerful tool for enhancing your critical thinking skills. While it won’t eliminate difficult decisions, it can help you make more informed and rational choices. By critically analyzing information and considering different perspectives, you can improve your decision-making process and contribute to a more effective program. Intentionally thinking critically empowers you to navigate the information and confront your own biases, to make choices that align with your goals and values.
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Carmen Morin is an Instructional Design Strategist, 7-figure education industry founder, and consultant. She specializes in performance-based training and development, and helps founders turn their expertise into scalable income and thought leadership through unmatched education programs.

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